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Volume 79 – Number 34

Don't lose your home to taxes

May 4-10, 2016

Clinton says Obama legacy at stake Detroit NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner

New Wayne County Treasurer focuses on customer education as home loss prevention Keith A. Owens Senior Editor

To Eric Sabree, the newly-appointed Wayne County Treasurer, the big issue is education — as in educating financially stressed Wayne County homeowners on how to keep from losing their homes to tax foreclosure. There are programs available, very affordable programs, but time is running out and Sabree’s p r i m a r y focus ever since he ascended to the driver’s chair has been to get the word out that just because you owe delinquent taxes on your home Eric Sabree doesn’t mean you’re out of luck.

Chances are, you aren’t in as much trouble as you might think.

So the message is simple — either work with the Treasurer’s Office and save your home or remain in denial and wind up on somebody’s couch.

“Basically the main thing we’re doing is education and information, letting people know how to get into those payment plans,” said Sabree.

“There’s about 10,000 people that owe less than 3,000 dollars.

That’s a good thing, because that means that for less than $3,000 they can get into a plan. That means that for 60 percent of that, you can save your property for $1,800. We have about 360 people who owe less than $1,000.”

People have until June 30 to get into a program. Sabree, who joined the WCT staff in 2011, then was first appointed as Chief Deputy Treasurer in November, 2015 before stepping up to the top level position last month, is currently working closely with a number of non-profit organizations, as well as appearing on various radio and TV shows to spread the word as effectively and as quickly as he can. Last year there were 28,000 Wayne County properties that went to the tax foreclosure auction. Sabree believes that with the help of the programs he is promoting, that number will be cut by nearly two-thirds, down to 10,000 this fall when the auction is held in

Rev. Wendell Anthony (left), Ivy Bailey, interim president, Detroit Federation of Teachers, and Jimmy Settles, vice president, UAW-Ford. Monica Morgan photos

By Roz Edward “It’s a celebration, it’s a revival … it’s one big community meeting and it can only happen in one place, right here in Detroit, Michigan,” said Democratic presidential nominee and 61st Annual Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner keynote speaker Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Undaunted by the pummeling she took just last month in the Michigan primary, a triumphant Clinton shared hard cold truths with NAACP Freedom Fund guests at Cobo Center on Sunday, May 1. During her speech, she spoke about a number of platform topics, including criminal justice reform, prison reform, gun control and the refinancing of student loan debt. Clinton said that she wanted to continue with the progress of the last eight years and maintain the gains of the Obama administration.

“Look at all of the great things happening in the city. There is a palpable feeling of pride and progress. And the auto industry just had its best year ever,” she said, noting that much of that progress has happened under the leadership of President Barack Obama. “We cannot let Barack Obama's legacy fall into Donald Trump’s hands. If I’m fortunate enough to be president, I’m going to fight to tear down those barriers. ... My

Rev. Wendell Anthony, Detroit Branch NAACP President, Ivey Bailey, Detroit Federation of Teachers, Interim President, Jimmy Settles, Vice President, UAW Ford administration will look like America.”

The presumptive nominee for the Democratic run at the White House struck a chord with the 10,000-plus largely African American audience gathered for the largest sit down dinner in the world. She told enthusiastic attendees that quality of life disparities continue to plague too many African Americans and that Detroit's

economic recovery must be inclusive of all segments of the population.

“We can’t be satisfied until the economic revitalization we are seeing in some of Detroit’s neighborhoods is felt in all of Detroit’s neighborhoods,” Clinton said. “We can’t be satisfied until every parent has a good paying

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WHAT’S INSIDE

Sparks fly at Freedom Forum

By Paul Warner

Stigmatizing mental illness (Page B-1)

Special to the Michigan Chronicle

The NAACP’s Freedom Forum on education on Saturday, a precursor to the Freedom Fund Dinner, started out as a balanced discussion between two different factions of opinion on how to fix the Detroit public school system.

Too often, according to experts, mental illness in the black community is denied, buried or dodged.

It erupted into a verbal brawl, with accusations of lies and offensive ideas hurled at each other.

The setup was politically cliché, with the pro Detroit schools representatives on the left side of the podium and the out of the city voices, who represented two Michigan districts far away from Detroit and pro charter school interests, on the right side. The setup would have been almost comical had the stakes in the discussion not been so high — the future of the education of the children of Detroit.

$1.00

Mayowa Lisa Reynolds, Cass Tech High School teacher of the year.

On the left was Detroit Cass Tech educator of the year Mayowa Lisa Reynolds; Greg Handel, Detroit Regional Chamber vice president of education and talent; Brian Banks (DMich, District 1), and John Rakolta, co-chair

Rep. Tim Kelly (R-Mich., District 94) of the Future of Detroit Schoolchildren Coalition.

On the right, charter school proponent Dan Quisenberry of the Michigan Association of Public School Academies, House education committee chair Amanda Price (R-Mich, District 89), and appropriations committee member Tim Kelly (R-Mich., District 94).

The forum took on greater meaning after its conclusion when on Monday, 48 hours

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May 4 -10, 2016

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Wayne County adds two new cities for health care pilot program

The Wayne County Department of Health, Veterans and Community Wellness has added Taylor and Harper Woods locations to its Wellness@thecommunity pilot program. With these additions, DHVCW now has satellite health care sites in four Wayne County communities to provide:

City of Harper Woods, City of Ecorse

• Tips for Healthy Eating

Harper Woods, MI 48225 Ecorse, MI 48229

• Lead Testing Kits • Head Start Enrollment • Health Care Insurance Registration for Small Businesses • WIC Enrollment • Child and Adult Vaccinations • Emergency Financial Aid for Veterans • Tips for Healthy Gardening The schedule for Wellness@thecommunity satellite health care site operation is as follows:

Commuter Challenge 2016:

City of Taylor, City of Hamtramck

Try a greener commute. Your miles make the difference.

SEMCOG, the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, announces that Commuter Challenge 2016 runs through the entire month of May. The “challenge” is for single-passenger drivers to try a new mode of travel to work (carpool, bus, vanpool, bike, walk, or work from home).

The Commuter Challenge is working to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from commuting trips by 130,000 pounds in the month of May. For instance, an individual commuter who carpools 20 miles instead of driving alone reduces overall CO2 emissions by 11.5 pounds.

Participants can see their contribution to clean air as individual reductions are calculated on the Commuter Challenge website. By reducing the miles we drive alone, we reduce air pollution in Southeast Michigan.

There are several incentives: • Improved air quality for our region, • Reduced driving stressors such as the dangers of a pothole-riddled road network, • Reduced personal driving expenses (calculate savings here) such as gas, flat tires, and fender benders, and • Added fitness benefits from incorporating cycling or walking into your commute.

Commuter Challenge participants are eligible for several prizes. Participants who sign up before May 1 have a chance of winning a $50 Amazon gift card.

“The goal of the Commuter Challenge is to alleviate drive-alone traffic by introducing drivers to different kinds of transportation, such as carpooling and vanpooling, public transportation, walking

Southfield Youth Assistance announces Partnering for Parenting Southfield Youth Assistance, in partnership with the city of Southfield, Oakland County, Southfield Public Schools and Inform Yourself Youth Development, will sponsor a “Partnering for Parenting Summer Camp Expo & Jump Rope Don’t Drink Challenge” on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Southfield Parks & Recreation Building, 26000 Evergreen Road.

The Expo will showcase camps, camp scholarship information, related vendors and other community resources available for youth and families, including an Internet safety and cyber-bullying presentation and parenting workshop.

It will also feature “The Jump Rope Don’t Drink Jump Off Challenge,” a youth initiative designed to educate young people about the dangers of underage drinking. Participants will receive a jump rope for the challenge for a $2 donation to SYA. Refreshments will also be

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Southfield Youth Assistance is also seeking vendors (camps, schools, child care centers, recreation classes, etc.) to showcase their services.

Organizations that are interested in participating can register online at www.syaexpo.eventbrite. com.

Southfield Youth Assistance is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) prevention program that focuses on providing services to youth and their families within the Southfield/Lathrup Village area. It provides short-term counseling services for youth who need additional support at home, school, or within the community while also engaging them in positive experiences and enhancing their social, academic, and interpersonal skills.

and biking, and making use of flextime and telecommute options. When compared to a drive-alone commute, all of these choices improve our air quality by reducing pollutants,” said Kathleen Lomako, executive director, SEMCOG. MAY OPPORTUNITIES May 4 — Bike to School Day, an annual Safe Routes to Schools event, is a chance for children to start developing healthy commuting habits early.

May 6 — Southeast Michigan will be competing against Lansing and Grand Rapids for the most commuter participation on Casual Commute Day. Commuters who sign up will be eligible for great prizes.

May 20 — On Bike to Work Day, organized rides coming from the north, east, and west will meet in Downtown Detroit at Capitol Park from 7 to 9 a.m.

Every day this May is an opportunity for participants to log their roundtrip commute (one per day) at the Commuter Challenge website and submit entries into the big prize drawing. The more days you log a commute, the more chances you have to win great prizes, including an iPAD, Tigers tickets, Marriot hotel stay, Visa and Amazon gift cards, dinner at Andiamo and more.

2100 Northline Rd. 9021 Joseph Campau Taylor, MI 48180 Hamtramck, MI 48212 Wayne County adds 2 new cities for health care pilot program

19601 Harper Avenue 3648 W. Jefferson Ave.

“The Department of Health, Veterans and Community Wellness want every Wayne County community to be the healthiest it can be. Expanding and increasing access to our services produces better neighborhood wellness outcomes in the long term,” said Dr. Mouhanad Hammami, director of the Department of Health, Veterans and Community Wellness.

Wayne County Executive Warren C. Evans said in his State of the County Address that one of his primary goals for 2016 is to increase access to health care for the citizens of Wayne County. The Wellness@thecommunity pilot program helps to fulfill that goal by removing barriers to service with satellite locations where residents can receive multiple services simultaneously.

For additional information on the Wayne County Health, Veterans and Community Wellness Department programs, visit www.waynecounty.com.

Hospice of Michigan to Offer Grief Support Sessions at Royal Oak Park Hospice of Michigan is offering grief support in an outdoor setting to provide a different environment for individuals seeking those services.

Support in the Park will be held every Thursday afternoon in June at Starr Jaycee Park in Royal Oak. The sessions are open to all who have lost a loved one.

“We think the nice June weather is an opportunity to provide a change of pace for our grief support sessions,” said Claudia Been, grief support services manager at HOM. “Sometimes a change of environment can be beneficial for those who are taking part in these sessions, particularly if they tend to find solace outdoors.”

est – hospice in the state.

The nonprofit cares for nearly 1,800 patients each day, raising more than $5 million each year to cover the cost of care for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life, including community-based palliative care and pediatric care programs. HOM provides grief support and counseling, caregiver education and support, and education programs for physicians and health care professionals through its research, training and education arm, the Hospice of Michigan Institute. In January

2016, HOM joined forces with Arbor Hospice and Palliative Care, strengthening the mission of nonprofit hospice in Michigan to ensure patients and their caregivers receive the highest quality of care.

While there is no charge to attend the event, registration is required.

For more information or to register, call Been at 248.334.1323.

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The sessions are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the park, 1101 W. 13 Mile Road. Participants should meet near the picnic shelter.

IS IN NEED OF CLOTHING, TOYS, BIKES AND MONETARY DONATIONS. ALL CLOTHING MUST BE ON HANGERS AND PRE WASHED.

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Denim Day raises awareness about sexual violence

By Kim Trent

AA490 Challenge has raised more than $240,000 so far.

Special to the Michigan Chronicle

Denim Day was one of several events and activities sponsored by AA490 in April, which was Sexual Assault Awareness Month.

Hundreds of City of Detroit employees raised thousands of dollars to support the campaign to process the city’s abandoned DNA rape evidence kits on Denim Day, an annual global event to challenge and raise awareness about sexual violence.

Denim Day began in 1992, after an 18-year-old Italian woman was sexually assaulted by her 45-year-old driving instructor. The rapist appealed his conviction, arguing that because the victim wore tight blue jeans, she had to help him remove them – which implied her consent to sex. Remarkably, the appeals court agreed and his conviction was overturned.

The next day, women members of the Italian Parliament wore blue jeans to work to express their outrage and demonstrate their solidarity with survivors of sexual violence. Their protest marked the launch of Denim Day. For the past three years, Detroit’s Denim Day has been organized by recording artist and activist Mahogany Jones.

This year, Jones joined with Wayne State University student organization Sister 2 Sister and the Enough Sexual Assault in Detroit African American 490 Challenge for an April 27 event at WSU’s student center building.

The event featured poets, musicians and panel discussions with sexual assault survivors and counselors. Performers included poet Rhonda

Members of the City of Detroit’s Human Rights Department sport jeans on Denim Day. Welsh, singer and songwriter Nina Sophia, hip hop artist Keem’DaFranchiZe, alternative rock band Illumination, singer and songwriter OneSingleRose, singer Sabrina Cole, DJ L Boog, and Shawntay Dalon, director and writer of the film “Daylight.”

Members of the Washtenaw County Youth Program presented original written pieces about their experiences as sexual assault survivors.

“This year’s Denim Day was so awesome,” Jones said. “I was really blessed by the panel discussions and the performers. I was incredibly grateful for the partnerships because they really made Denim Day possible this year.”

As part of Denim Day De-

troit, City of Detroit employees were allowed to wear denim to work if they made a $5 donation to the campaign. The effort raised $3,634, enough to process seven DNA rape kits.

“Making sure these rape kits get tested is so important to this community and it was great to see so many city employees step up to donate toward this effort and in support of victims of sexual assault,” said Detroit Mayor Michael Duggan. “Our Human Resources department already is looking at developing ways our employees can support this effort on a sustained basis going forward.”.

In 2009, a member of Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy’s staff discovered 11,341 unopened, untested rape kits in a Detroit Police Department

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storage room. Each kit represents an unsolved rape case and an assailant who escaped justice.

Worthy joined forces with the Michigan Women’s Foundation and the Detroit Crime Commission to launch Enough SAID (Sexual Assault in Detroit), an effort to raise private dollars and leverage more public funding to process the abandoned kits. Because of the Enough SAID campaign, 10,000 kits have been processed. In October 2015, 100 black women leaders announced the Enough SAID African American 490 Challenge, a campaign to raise $657,090, enough to process the remaining 1,341 rape kits by the end of 2016. Each rape kit costs $490 to process, hence the campaign’s name.

When Detroit Federation of Teachers interim President Ivy Bailey called for teacher sickouts this week because after June 30, the district will not pay DPS teachers for work already performed, the news reverberated through the community and confirmed what teachers, parents and students already feared … another epic fail.

Bailey on Monday, May 2, described the situation not as a sickout, but a lockout, as the threat of payless paydays hovers over the already ailing school district.

(c) BillionPhotos.com - Fotolia.com

Students: Great Tips for Finding a Scholarship College is expensive, and while families should focus on saving what they can, students should not forget to apply to the wealth of scholarships available nationwide.

Millions of scholarships, worth billions of dollars are awarded annually. Beyond inhouse scholarships offered by the institutions themselves, a number of federations and organizations offer money to students with particular aptitudes, achievements and aspirations.

“Scholarships can make a significant dent in out-of-pocket college spending, but finding and applying for them requires an up-front investment of effort,” says Martha Holler, senior vice president, Sallie Mae. The college financing experts at Sallie Mae are offering scholarship application tips: • Applying is worth the time and effort.

Even if the award is small, take the time to apply to every scholarship for which you are eligible. It is money that doesn’t have to be paid back, and it can be used for textbooks, supplies or other college-related expenses.

• Deadlines and details matter. In the highly competitive scholarship arena, missing a deadline or overlooking application requirements will likely disqualify an applicant. Stay organized with a spreadsheet that includes due dates and other important information.

• Apply each year. Approximately half of available scholarships are for students already enrolled in college. Take the time to apply annually to ease the year-to-year tuition burden.

• Impress the judges. Something seem-

ingly as small as a thank you note can have a disproportionately large effect on how an application is regarded. Be courteous and thoughtful throughout the process.

“At Fifth Third Bank, we support women’s issues,” said Byna Elliott, senior vice president. “Our Women’s Resources Group supports this program and others that provide safeguards and help for women.”

Trent welcomed the support for the campaign.

“We are very excited that Mayor Duggan, Mahogany Jones and other Detroit leaders see the value of supporting the 1,341 survivors whose kits still need to be processed,” she said.

“We are confident that with the continued support of individuals, corporations and groups, we will raise the balance of our commitment by Dec. 31.”

To donate to AA490, visit www.aa490challenge.org.

DFT responds to payless payday threat, 94 schools closed

By Lee Claire

STUDENTS WIRED FOR ACHIEVEMENT AND GREATNESS

AA490 Challenge President Kim Trent made presentations at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church’s spring revival on April 20 and Wayne State University’s Take Back the Night event on April 11. AA490 Challenge core committee member Dorothy McNeil raised $400 for the campaign through an appeal at the April 15 performance of the Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. Employees from Fifth Third Bank and Goodwill Industries’ Flip the Script program participated in casual attire fundraisers for AA490 in April.

Bailey said in a statement, “When we learned this weekend that Detroit Public Schools was preparing plans to withhold salaries for work done by educators in May and June, we asked [DPS transition manager) Judge Rhodes to assure us this was a rumor.

When he told us that this was not a rumor but that he would try to figure out a way to ensure teachers are paid for their work, we

asked him for three simple words: ‘I guarantee it.’

Unfortunately, he would not make that guarantee this morning, nor could he do so this evening.

“There’s a basic agreement in America — when you put in a day’s work, you’ll receive a day’s pay.

DPS is breaking that deal.

Teachers want to be in the classroom giving children a chance to learn and reach their potential.

Unfortunately, by refusing to guarantee that we will be paid for our work, DPS is effectively locking our members out of the classrooms.

“Judge Rhodes is right, we have built a collaborative relationship between his office and our union.

But at a certain point, we can no longer move forward on good intentions alone. We were already promised that teachers would be paid for their work ‪through June 30, but now DPS says it can’t keep that promise. Teachers in Detroit have sacrificed greatly to ensure our schools stay open and our kids have the opportunity to learn. But

working without pay is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Teachers have mortgage payments, utility bills, grocery bills.

Being paid for their work isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity.

“We look forward to finding a solution that keeps our schools open for our students and keeps the bargain of being paid for one’s labor.”

Bailey added that teachers had no choice but to conduct the sickout. “Nobody should be asked to work and not get paid,” she said. “ A total of 94 schools were shut down Monday as teachers protested the news. The district has about 46,000 students in 97 schools.

There are about 2,600 teachers in the district.

“This is the final straw…No person should be asked to work without pay,” Bailey said.

This affects teachers who decided to have their paycheck spread out over a 52-week span and continue to receive paychecks over the summer.

• Shop around. Go deep. There are scholarships for students who want to study subjects as diverse as candy making, potato growing and welding technology. Additionally, scholarships are available for particular circumstances, such as community college students transferring to four-year institutions, or students who are the first in their family to attend college.

• Don’t spend. The goal is to save money, not spend it. Guidance counselors and school financial aid offices can recommend free, reputable scholarship search sites, such as Scholarship Search by Sallie Mae, which just added two million scholarships to its database, offering access to more than five million scholarships worth nearly $24 billion. Those who register are automatically eligible to win the Plan for College Sweepstakes, which awards $1,000 each month to a winner selected at random.

• Continue to save and plan. Landing a scholarship is just one component of being prepared for college. Continue to set aside savings. Free college planning tools are available online in Sallie Mae’s College Planning Toolbox.

For more tips on how to get started finding free money for college and for information on saving, planning and paying for college, visit www.SallieMae.com.

Spend some time investigating all your college financing options. Scholarships are an excellent way to supplement your savings and other funding sources.

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DDOT bus service to Belle Isle Park

By Goran The Detroit Department of Transportation has partnered with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) to provide bus service to Belle Isle Park via the existing #12 Conant route.

The new bus service provides access for residents, visitors and staff to get on and off the island by simply paying the standard $1.50 bus fare with no additional park entry fees. A Recreation Passport is not needed for those visitors taking bus service onto the island. There is one bus stop on the island which is located in close proximity to major destination points such as the conservatory, the aquarium and the giant slide. “We are glad to provide access for residents to such a unique destination,” says Scharron Rambus from DDOT. “Belle Isle has been a place where special memories have been made and we are honored to continue that tradition.”

Customers will be able to utilize the service, which has been in effect since

April 23rd, via the #12 Conant bus route Monday – Friday between the hours of 5:50 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Sunday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Service to Belle Isle will run roughly every 50 minutes.

“The DNR and DDOT have been working together for months to introduce bus service to Belle Isle Park,” said Ron Olson with DNR. “As attendance at the park increased to more than 3.5 million visitors last year, it became increasingly important to provide additional transportation options to the island. It has been a pleasure to work with DDOT on providing this bus service.”

“We are glad that DDOT has the opportunity to take our customers to Belle Isle. It is another way which we are showing Detroit's citizens that DDOT is continuing to improve,” said Dan Dirks, DDOT director.

For more information please contact SuVon Treece at 313-670-1687 or suvtre@detroitmi.gov.

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May 4-10, 2016

Page A-4

Taxes From page A-1 September and October.

Rev. Wendell Anthony (left), president, Detroit Branch NAACP; Shaka Senghor, author; and Donnell White, executive director, Detroit Branch NAACP.

Sen. Gary Peters (left), Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson, Tuskegee Airmen; Sen. Debbie Stabenow and Sen. Brenda Lawrence.

NAACP

From page A-1

job, and every grandparent has secure retirement.”

Clinton, known for her candor, has said on more than one occasion that she recognizes her life of privilege insulates her from the perils of poverty and injustice, but for millions of other Americans the economic and social forecast is not as secure or promising. She has been popular with African American voters for both her husband Bill Clinton’s administration and her commitment to improving quality of life issues for the less privileged.

■J ames Weldon Johnson Lifetime Acheivement Awardee, Honorable James E Clyburn, U.S. Representative, South Carolina, 6th Congressional District

“She’s not about the status quo. As a matter of fact, she will shake up the status quo,” said Freedom Fund dinner guest and Clinton supporter Sheila Cotton. “I was here in 2004 when she said she recognized that she would be all right because she is a wealthy white woman, but the rest of us may have to look out … I believe she’ll make the change we need.

Clinton forcefully addressed critical local issues and challenges facing citizens of Detroit and the state when she honed in on the Detroit Public Schools crisis.

■ Ida B. Wells Freedom and Justice awardee Ivy Bailey, president, Detroit Federation of Teachers ■ Mary Church Terrell Freedom and Justice awardee Honorable Goeff Hansen, Michigan State Senator (34th District)

NAACP Fight for Freedom Fund Dinner guests, Jacquelyn Hayes and Mitzy Smith

“We can’t be satisfied until all of Detroit’s children are learning in good schools, with good classrooms with good teachers with no crumbling ceilings or mold or rats scurrying across the floor,” she said, adding, “Or do we think some children are less worthy, some families less valuable, some people less than because of their race, religion, income, gender identity or some other ugly excuse? Do we want America to be a place where, as Langston Hughes put it, the quality is in the air we breathe?”

nent Bernie Sanders be held in Flint.

Prior to April’s Democratic primary, the presidential hopeful insisted the Democratic candidate debate with oppo-

Clinton, who also delivered the keynote address at NAACP's Freedom Fund Dinner while serving as a U.S. sena-

“We can’t be satisfied until all of Michigan’s families have clean water to drink and bathe in. We know what happened in Flint is unacceptable and we have to make sure that that kind of disregard for the lives of children and families is never allowed to happen anywhere else ever again,” said the impassioned speaker. “We cannot get distracted, not until all of our children have what they deserve in every community that has been left out and left behind.”

Freedom Forum later, hundreds of Detroit teachers staged a sickout after it was announced that Detroit Public Schools would run out of money by June. The sickout caused the closure of nearly all Detroit schools.

The fireworks started late in the forum, when Banks spoke directly to Kelly about local Detroit involvement in the state’s policies in reference to the Detroit Public Schools after audience member Leah Moore, a parent and Cass Tech student, commented that people on the panel were out of touch with the needs of Detroit school students.

“On this panel, it seems to me that Mrs Price and others on this panel are out of touch,” she said. “Have any of your children, grandchildren, anyone in your family been under a school system under emergency management? You have no insight on what is going on here. If I have no say, how can you say that I'm not saying anything?”

Moore gave her response after Kelly stated that the Detroit community needed to do more to help their own kids.

Kelly was combative and defensive about the subject.

“I totally take offense that I'm out of touch,” said Kelly, after being reminded by other panel members that the accusation was made to other panel members also.

Banks replied to the question by saying that yes, his colleagues are out of touch with what they have been experiencing in Detroit.

“When you have no sense of reality to what the real issue is, it’s easy for you to come up with legislation that doesn’t fix the problem but makes it worse. In order to fix this problem you’ve got to to bring in all

The panel. Bankole Thompson

the stakeholders. The teachers have to be involved, the parents have to be involved."

Moderator Bankole Thompson chimed in, saying that all things Lansing are highly suspect to Detroit citizens and asked Price what can be done to fix a system that has been destroyed by the state.

“I disagree with the premise of the question,” stated Price, the chair of the education committee who agreed that she had no experience in education. “A lot of people disagree with the key issues, and we have got to come to a place where we can move forward.”

tor in 2004, implored African American voters to preserve President Barack Obama's legacy. Obama is also a keynote alum, having addressed dinner audience in 2005.

Clinton is 218 delegates short of clinching the Democratic nomination, with 2,165 delegates to Sanders’ 1,357, which includes her 520 super delegates. Super delegates include party leaders and members of Congress. Clinton lost Michigan’s Democratic primary to challenger Bernie Sanders in April by 17,168 votes, capturing 49.7 percent of the primary vote.

Other honorees at the Freedom Fund Dinner included:

■ Great Expectations awardees Shaka Senghor, award-winning author of “Writing My Wrongs,” and Honorable Mary Sheffield, councilwoman, City of Detroit ■ U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow also presented the Bronze Star Medal to Lt. Col. Alexander Jefferson for his heroic service and meritorious achievements as a Tuskegee Airman and POW during World War II. “Alexander Jefferson’s story is so inspiring and needs to be told,” said Stabenow. “As one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the world, presenting this prestigious medal at the Freedom Fund Dinner is a fitting tribute.”

Thanks to legislation passed last year in Lansing, Sabree said that property owners who owe delinquent taxes can become eligible for a program where they only have to pay 6 percent interest on their delinquent tax bill as opposed to 18 percent, which is what it used to be. The new program allows homeowners to add up all the back taxes owed, then pay 10 percent of that as a down payment on the balance owed. For example, if you owe a total of $10,000 in delinquent taxes, you would pay $1,000 down, which is 10 percent. Then, from that point forward, you would pay 3 percent of the total balance each month, which equals $300. However, to stay in the program you must also pay your current taxes (winter and summer taxes) before March 1 of 2017.

Right now, 70 percent of the people since the plan was announced have stayed current.

But 30 percent have defaulted.

So an even newer plan is being offered that will give defaulters a second chance by offering an option that won’t add much more than $20 monthly to what they would have been paying had they stayed current and not defaulted on the older plan. But this plan is only good for the remainder of 2016.

Once 2017 rolls around, it will be too late. Anyone attempting to avail themselves of an interest reduction program next year will only find that they have expired.

Then there’s the SEV (State Equalized Value) stipulated payment agreement which says that if you owe more in taxes than half of the SEV on your home, you only pay half of your SEV. For example, if you owe $17,000 in back taxes but the SEV on your house is $5,500, all it takes is a one-time payment of $2,750 (half of your SEV) to wipe your slate clean.

Everything else goes away.

In order to further assist customers with paying their bills, Sabree said the Treasurer's Office will be offering a wide variety of payment options in the near future. For example, they will be joining with DTE to enable their customers to start using the DTE payment kiosks — already in place — to also pay their delinquent taxes with cash, credit card or check without having to come into the office. This option should become available in about three months.

Efforts are also under way to make online payments available. Payment by phone is already available and appears to be a popular option, said Sabree.

From page A-1 ers up there,” Banks snapped back. “Not until I paid for them to get on a bus to get them up there. Too often you don’t hear from Detroiters until the end. It’s time we have a voice at the beginning of these conversations. Don’t bring us at the end, bring us in at the onset.

Because, guess what, this legislation affects us, our kids, our community, not where you’re from. We need to hear from real Detroiters at the onset. The process is flawed, the process is wrong and you have to admit it. Yes, they came but only after we brought them there the day before we voted.” (at podium) served as moderator.

Reynolds, who has put her own children through the Detroit public school system, became offended by the notion

by Kelly that the DPS should be eliminated.

When asked by a audience member about comments he made in the Detroit Free Press about Detroit school students being better off without the Detroit Public Schools, Kelly replied.

Rep. Amanda Price Rep. Brian Banks “Yes, I believe that. I think (R-Mich, District 89) (D-Mich, District 1) the kids would be better without the DPS. I think it’s bereft Banks returned with the who you wanted to hear from. of providing a decent educacomments that started the big- You can’t keep having convertion,” he said as members of sations about Detroit without the audience made negative gest verbal brawl. bringing real Detroiters to the “When legislation that afcomments in response to his fects Detroit has come up, we table.” statement. were ready to take a vote in “Hold on a minute, are you Reynolds replied to his stateappropriations, I stood up and talking about appropriations? ment, “As a citizen of this city, said not today because we have Brian, you know we had those who has reared five children, not heard from Detroit citizens, discussions. This is absolutely four of whom have graduated Detroit parents,” said Banks. untrue, it’s a absolute lie,” said from Detroit public schools Not one time did you all extend Kelly. “That's an absolute false- with ACT scores above 22, an invitation to a Detroit elect- hood and he knows it. You can who have gone to colleges and ed school board, a Detroit par- look at the transcripts. We’ve universities throughout this ent-teacher organization, a had teachers, the coalition, nation from my home, I am ofcommunity association, city we’ve had parents. This is ab- fended at the notion that somecouncil members, no pastors in solute nonsense. He’s putting one would have the audacity to the city of Detroit. The agenda out something that you want to say that we would be better off had already been set and was hear that is a absolute lie.” without a public school system. already fixed. You heard from “You did not have the teach- That is offensive.”

news

May 4-10, 2016

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

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Wendy Hilliard, Lynette Love awarded Cass Tech Top Athletes of the Century Michigan Chronicle Reports

Cass Technical High School Alumni Association’s (CTAA) Centennial Celebration Hall of Fame Committee recently announced that Cass Technical High School alumni and athletes, Wendy Hilliard and Lynnette Love, would be awarded Top Athletes of the Century and inducted into its Athlete Hall of Fame.

CTAA is celebrating its 100th year anniversary in 2016 and hosting a multitude of events and celebrations throughout the year. During the 100-Year Centennial Celebration, the Centennial Committee will recognize coaches, teams, and individual athletes along, with their accomplishments over the past 100 years, in an effort to inspire Cass Technical High School graduates and current students to become future leaders.

Class of 1978 graduate Wendy Hilliard has long been a major force in Women’s, Olympic and community sports. Hilliard was the first African American to represent the U.S. in international

competition and also to serve as president of the Women’s Sports Foundation. Hilliard is also the founder of Wendy Hilliard Gymnastics Foundation (WHGF), a notfor-profit organization that provides free and low-cost quality gymnastics for inner-city youth based in Harlem, New York. She also recently announced that after 20 years of successful programming, the WHGF will be expanding and providing gymnastics programs in Detroit, in fall 2016.

“Inspiring local youth to empower themselves through the sport of gymnastics is such a rewarding experience and being named Top Athlete of the Century is the icing on the cake on an extraordinary year,” said Hilliard. “As we gear up to bring our successful and affordable programming home to the Motor City, I am honored to receive this award and to provide my hometown with new opportunities in gymnastics.”

Hilliard remained on the Rhythmic Gymnastics National Team for a record-setting nine times; serving twice as national

team captain, but early in her career she had to fight for her spot on the team. In 1983, Hilliard was denied a spot on the World Championship Group Routine. The coach said that she stood out too much for the synchronized routine.

She challenged the decision and U.S.A. Gymnastics then selected the team based on the ranking from the National Championships, which allowed Hilliard to participate in her third World

Championship. It was the pivotal incident that set the stage for her long career as an advocate for an athlete’s right to compete.

Hilliard went on to compete in the 1984 Olympic trials and traveled to more than 15 foreign countries. She is a four-time U.S. National Team Coach, who also coached 1996 Olympian, Aliane Baquerot Wilson.

She was the first African American president of the Women’s Sports Foundation, an Olympic Sports-

caster and Broadway performer. She was also was the director of sports for the New York City 2012 Olympic Bid. In 2008, Hilliard was inducted into the U.S.A. Gymnastics Hall of Fame.

Lynnette Love, Class of 1975 graduate, is a Wayne State University graduate and a former U.S.A. Olympian in Taekwondo. Today, Love operates Love’s Tae Kwon Do Academy where she teaches upcoming martial arts practitioners.

Love received a gold medal in the 1988 Seoul Olympics and a bronze medal in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Love honed her skills at Howard University. Love’s outstanding career spans over 24 years, making her the most decorated woman athlete in Tae Kwon Do history. Love’s tremendous accomplishments have landed her a spot in the Guinness Book of World Records and extraordinary titles including: Three World Championships, Two Olympic Medals, 10 National Championships and five Pan American titles. Upon retirement, Love went on to coach the US National Team at the World Championships, World Cup and Pan Am Games earning the USOC Developmental Coach of the Year title.

In addition to being awarded Top Athletes of the Century and inducted into the CTHS Athlete Hall of Fame, the CTAA Centennial Hall of Fame Committee is planning to nominate Lynnette Love and Wendy Hilliard for the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame, October 1, 2016.

DTE Energy sponsors local teams at the 2016 FIRST® Robotics World Championship Detroit-area teams are among seven teams DTE is supporting at St. Louis tournament April 27-30

DTE Energy is proud to sponsor the students from the University of Detroit Jesuit, Mercy Education Project and Novi Middle School FIRST® Robotics teams as they travel from southeast Michigan to St. Louis to compete in the 2016 FIRST® Robotics World Championship held April 27-30. In addition to financial support over the course of the 16-week season, DTE Energy employees volunteered their time to mentor Michigan students competing for a place at the 2016 national competition. The University of Detroit Jesuit, Mercy Education Project and Novi Middle School students join more than 900 teams from across the country competing in the

championship.

“These programs engage students with learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and math, and they build strong leadership skills and a commitment to communities,” said Shawn Patterson, vice president of organizational effectiveness and chief learning officer for DTE Energy. “Those qualities are vitally important to DTE Energy as we focus our efforts on developing a wellskilled and diverse work force and the leaders of tomorrow.

These students represent the best and brightest, and we are proud to support them.”

The teams from University of Detroit Jesuit, Mercy Education

Project and Novi Middle School are among 88 elite teams from Michigan competing in St. Louis. Teams will compete in arena challenges, putting their STEM education skills to work to score points with their robots in events that reward the effectiveness of each robot, the power of team strategy and collaboration and the determination of the students. A judging committee makes award decisions for a series of awards that honor teams for distinction in areas including engineering, design excellence, competitive play, sportsmanship and high-impact partnerships between schools, businesses, and communities.

In addition to University of Detroit Jesuit, Mercy Education Project and Novi Middle School, DTE is sponsoring four other Michigan teams competing at the 2016 FIRST® Championship: • Charyl Stockwell Preparatory Academy, Brighton • Bedford Senior High School, Temperance • Petoskey High School, Petoskey • West Catholic High School, Grand Rapids DTE Energy Foundation, the philanthropic arm of DTE, donated $95,000 this year to FIRST in Michigan to support statewide robotics competi-

tions. DTE Energy also has provided additional financial support to individual teams, while DTE employees have mentored teams from across the state.

Building on DTE’s long and proud history of employee volunteerism, these mentors spent nights and weekends teaching students about technology and engineering as they worked to build robots.

DTE is proud to support the University of Detroit Jesuit, Mercy Education Project and Novi Middle School FIRST® Robotics teams at the 2016 FIRST® Robotics World Championship, and congratulates these students on their successful season.

Mayors’ Task Force for the Well-Being of Children and Families 11th Annual Community Leadership Breakfast

Leseliey Welch and Kanta Bhambhani, MD, speakers; Alice G. Thompson, Chair, Mayors’ Task Force for the Well-Being of Children and Families; Mary Sue Schottenfels, speaker.

Mayors’ Task Force for the Well-Being of Children and Families recognized Healthy Start Detroit, for its work to prevent infant mortality by improving the health of the child bearing age population through the promotion of family health and well being.

“S

afeguarding our Children . . .Advocating for a Lead Free Environment” was the theme of the Mayors’ Task Force for the Well-Being of Children and Families’ 11th Annual Community Leadership Breakfast.

The Task Force, celebrating 53 years of service to metro Detroit communities, was established in 1963 by Detroit’s Mayor Jerome P. Cavanagh, and was anchored within the Detroit Health Department.

The Annual Community Leadership Breakfast celebrated 11 years of hosting this citywide event. This year’s esteemed speakers were: Leseliey Welch, Deputy Director, Detroit Health Department; Mary Sue Schottenfels, Executive Director, CLEARCorps Detroit; and, Kanta Bhambhani, MD, Director, Lead Clinic, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children’s Hospital of Michigan & Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Wayne State University SOM. “The issue of lead exposure and lead poisoning is not new to our community. The work of the Mayors’ Task Force will continue to inform and educate on strategies to safeguard our children from all forms of abuse and neglect, including environmental abuse and neglect,” states Alice G. Thompson, Chair, Mayors’ Task Force for the Well-Being of Children and Families. For further information on the Mayors’ Task Force for the Well-Being of Children and Families, contact Alice G. Thompson at athompson@blackfamilydevelopment.org.

Mayors’ Task Force for the Well-Being of Children and Families recognized Selma Goode, Founder of Westside Mothers, saluting her for her vision, commitment and lifelong advocacy for welfare rights, human rights, and social, political and economic justice.

Leadership and staff from the Detroit Health Department, and leadership from the Mayors’ Task Force for the Well-Being of Children and Families.

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Mothers’ Day Guide to Health and Happiness

By AJ Williams With Mother’s Day just a few days away, if you’re anything like me, you’re still scrambling to find the perfect, not boring, typical, I want to wow my mom gift. Still searching?

Search no more. Instead of giving Mom the traditional flowers this year, try to give her an experience with the following.

Relax Mothers are the most giving people, always leaving themselves on the back burner for the sake of the family. Show mom how much you appreciate her sacrifice with this one-of-a-kind day retreat at Woodhouse Spa’s annual Mother’s Day affair. The event will take place at 4 p.m. on Thursday, May 5, at the Woodhouse Day Spa Detroit, 1447 Woodward. All are welcome to attend.

Guests will also enjoy delectable treats, delightful teas, signature mimosas and complimentary “Try Me” spa services. Surprise and delight items will also be on special.

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Blacks and mental illness Why the stigma may be worse than the disease

By Danton Wilson Special to the Chronicle

Too often, experts say, the subject of mental illness is a radioactive conversation in the African American community — buried, dodged or denied to the point of absurdity.

May is Mental Health Month, and a number of Detroit organizations and individuals are working to excavate what some say is a covered-up reality in many black families and communities.

“As individuals and as a community, we are starting to realize we can’t be resistant to seeking services, and we can’t continue to see those who get services as somehow being weak,” said Cynthia Jackson, program director at Detroit’s Northeast Guidance Center, a comprehensive community mental health agency which has operated in Detroit for more than five decades.

The Detroit-area celebration of Mental Health Month includes an Anti-Stigma Forum set for Thursday, May 5, 5:30 p.m., in the Northeast Guidance Center’s Wellness Academy, 2900 Conner, Building A, in Detroit. Guest speakers include WJBK-TV 2’s Lee Thomas — a broadcaster, author and motivational speaker — plus recording artist Ituha Cloud, winner of the 2014 “Inspiring Hope, Rising Star” award from the National Council for Behavioral Health.

Lee Thomas

For several years, a worldwide public awareness campaign has labored to end the stigma associated with mental illness. Billboards around the globe blare out messages such as “StompOutStigma,” “Imagine If You Got Blamed for Having Cancer” and “Stop the Judgment/ Start the Healing.”

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Jackson is convinced the effort is starting to pay off.

“Of course, we still have a way to go when it comes to raising awareness about mental health,” said Jackson.

“After all, completely reversing long-held views and misconceptions is like turning a big ship — it turns slowly. Still, we are definitely moving in the right direction.

“These days, thanks to the new federal initiatives, we are getting so many more individuals who are insured. That really makes a difference in helping people gain access to services.”

Some say the overall stigma associated with mental health challenges actually may be a bundle of assorted assumptions, fears and rationalizations about mental illness and mental health treatment.

More than one study has revealed the general view of African Americans can be particularly resistant to change. A major public health article, for example,

Ituha Cloud pointed out that some 63 percent of African Americans believe depression is a demonstration of an individual’s personal weakness. A rampant view among blacks, Jackson says, is that “if you are not able to handle the issues in your life, there is something bad or wrong with you.”

The fear of being branded with that sentiment becomes “strong reinforcement not to seek treatment,” says Jackson.

Meanwhile, other studies have shown many African Americans are unaware of the need to seek medical evaluation and treatment even when dealing with long-lasting depression. One study, for example, reported blacks are more likely

to believe depression lasting more than a year is normal.

The reluctance to address mental health as a critical issue in the African American community may stem from a narrow view of the subject, others believe. Mental health encompasses more than diseases such as paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. Jackson explains that conditions such as alcohol and drug abuse, for example, come under the mental health umbrella. Substance abuse, she says, is sometimes an individual’s attempt to self-medicate his or her way out of undiagnosed mental illness symptoms.

Recognizing that mental health is a much broader topic than certain serious brain disorders can help the overall population understand that mental health is not a concern just for certain health professionals or for just the “unfortunate few victims of serious illness,” experts say.

“Mental health problems touch everyone,” said Jackson. “In their families or in their own lives, every one of us has had some exposure to some diagnosed or diagnosable mental health issue. It may be something dealt with through medication, something addressed by talk therapy, or simply psycho-educational instruction to help reinforce understanding on issues such as getting enough sleep, managing stress and the importance of good nutrition.”

Jackson says the sheer volume of

See MENTAL HEALTH page B-2

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WSU President M. Roy Wilson and Mayor Duggan hold health equity summit Michigan Chronicle Staff Reports

one of our top priorities.”

Wayne State University, in partnership with the City of Detroit, hosted the inaugural Mayor’s Summit on Health Equity May 2-3 on Wayne State’s Midtown Detroit campus.

Detroit has the highest asthma rate in young children among America’s 18 largest cities. Many other diseases and conditions — including pre-term birth, heart disease, diabetes and HIV — also affect Detroiters at disproportionately higher rates than the rest of the country.

Led by Wayne State President M. Roy Wilson and Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan, health disparity researchers gathered with officials from Detroit’s department of public health, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and key community organizations to address the city’s health disparities.

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Wayne State has made a substantial investment in creating a healthier Detroit, dedicating more than $200 million to health disparities alone.

“Wayne State has made it part of its mission to positively impact local communities,” commented Wilson. “We are

uniquely positioned to do just that by improving the health of Detroiters and, ultimately, achieving health equity.”

“The reverberations from health disparities are felt in Detroit’s educational system and economy. If we are to realize a true revitalization of Detroit, we need healthy students in the classroom and productive workers on the job,” said Wilson.

“We appreciate Wayne State partnering with us to help create a better and healthier Detroit,” Mayor Mike Duggan said. “We are working to improve everyday life for Detroiters, and that makes health

The goals of the summit were to examine the interrelated systems contributing to the substantial health disparities in Detroit and develop a roadmap to achieving health equity in the city. According

M. Roy Wilson

to Dawn Misra, co-chair of the summit, associate chair for research and a professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences at Wayne State, disparities in health provide tangible evidence of the often invisible injustices embedded in the social, economic and political systems affecting Detroiters, especially people of color.

“We invited participants who will help identify practical strategies to achieve health equity, emphasizing how societal determinants of health take root in critical stages of life and accumulate across a lifespan to eventually amplify health disparities,” noted Misra. “The Mayor’s Summit focused on how community assets, capacity building, and community engagement can promote health equity through fundamental systems transformation.”

community

Mental health mental health episodes in the U.S. is evident in the statistic that one in five Americans will experience a diagnosable disorder in any 12-month period.

If a better understanding of mental health challenges is on the upswing, it is happening at a critical time, Jackson believes.

The usual suspects of problems in the African American community — which can provide fertile ground for immediate or longterm mental health crises — are not relenting. Blacks are more likely to be victims of violent crime and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they are over-represented in illicit substance abuse.

“And then you can add issues such as people just living for generations in a poverty setting or a history of being molested,” said Jackson. “When you hear the stories of some people, you wonder how they have been able to hold it together as long as they have. There is so much resilience.”

Meanwhile, unemployment, economic problems, and the breakdown of the family have helped erase what Jackson calls “natural supports.” In past generations, she explains, a network of extended family connections and a more cohesive community acted as a buffer to isolation and other problems which can contribute to mental illness.

Thanks to a systematic assault on the family, Jackson says, many children are living with a mother and/or a father who are not able to raise a child.

“Sometimes, the family is not intact, and there are no supports – Big Mama doesn’t exist anymore,” Jackson said.

Still, there is room for optimism, Jackson added. A commitment to community mental health services — while not comprehensive enough or funded in a way that reflects the vastness of the problem — far outstrips what most now believe was the unfortunate “warehousing” and “locking away” of the mentally ill in past decades.

Jackson points to the success of one client as evidence of the system finally starting to get it right. One middle-aged woman had endured multiple psychia­tric hospitalizations and had been known for violent outbursts.

She had been in one of the

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

From page B-1 large facilities sometimes derided as simply warehouses, where some mentally ill individuals were forced to live the rest of their lives.

What eventually worked was moving the client at her request from an adult foster care (AFC) home and finding a way to help her maintain her liberty and independence while at the same time giving her protections.

“She may look different, act different and think different than the way we do,” said Jackson.

“But she deserves to be independent, and we can help people such as her maintain their liberties … and give them certain protections. We can build supports for them and learn to coexist with them.”

The initiative worked. The client has had no outbursts or significant mental health episodes in the years she has been out of the adult foster care home and since she started living independently with clinical and housing supports.

Jackson added that while the price tag for such improved treatment may initially appear high, the cost pales in comparison to past practices of “warehousing” mentally ill individuals in large facilities.

The lesson is that every person is different, Jackson concluded, and that it takes time to learn the differences. Sometimes, a critical part of the equation is finding doctors, clinicians and other health care professionals the client has confidence in. The traditionally problematic relationship between the African American community and the medical establishment needs to be considered, health experts add. It is the reason many African Americans shun treatment for psychiatric problems and other health issues as well.

“There is a time and place for everything,” said Jackson. “And with some of the advances in our understanding of how to treat certain patients, I believe this is a season for healing. Still, to do that, we have to be prepared to make sure we have enough professionals who look like, who reflect, the community they serve.”

For more information on the Anti-Stigma Forum or on Mental Health Month, call (313) 3081416 or visit scommon@neguidance.org.

May 4 -10, 2016

Page B-2

Head Start gets $1.4 million for teachers and toddlers The Southeast Michigan Early Childhood Funders Collaborative, a group of funders working together to support early childhood education, has announced a second round of grants totaling $1.4 million from its Detroit Head Start Innovation Fund (Innovation Fund).

The Innovation Fund made its first grants in September 2014 to foster innovation and collaboration and support stronger outcomes for young children and their families enrolled in Detroit Head Start agencies. The current $1.4 million was distributed to four Head Start organizations, which together serve more than 3,000 children in facilities across Detroit. The funding supports three system-wide goals: recruit and retain qualified early childhood educators; attract more Head Start-eligible families, and support shared data and program evaluation.

Matrix Human Services received $450,000 to increase the pool of qualified early childhood and Teach for America educators by offering a Child Development Associate program and a fiveweek employment training program. The funds will also be used for financial literacy education and other programs to support low-income families.

Metropolitan Child and Youth Inc. received $200,000 for teacher retention and

the recruitment of families with infants and toddlers to Early Head Start programs.

Funds will also support a partnership with First Children’s Finance to facilitate staff leadership development and capacity building and implement an accelerated child development associate credentialing process. Funding will also support partnerships with Madonna University to provide Infant and Toddler Care certification for staff, and with HighScope and Teachstone to develop and evaluate curriculum.

New Saint Paul Tabernacle Church of God in Christ Head Start Agency received $300,000 for unique partnerships with Madonna University and HighScope to build teacher recruitment and retention efforts, including teacher development and a “train the trainer” program, with a focus on training teachers for Early Head Start.

Starfish Family Services received $450,000 to provide training and professional development for teachers, advancement opportunities for qualified staff, and ongoing performance assessment programs for all personnel at the manager level or higher.

Additionally, funding will also be used to support a data manager who will work to ensure the consistency and compatibility of data gathered across all neighborhood Head

Starts managed by the four agencies and the creation of effective data-sharing systems and protocols.

Furthermore, a report, commissioned by the Innovation Fund, examines the barriers to becoming a Head Start or Early Head Start educator in the city, and identifies opportunities for Detroit to utilize proven national methods and locally-generated solutions to build the pool of eligible and qualified Detroit Head Start educators.

The members of the Southeast Michigan Early Childhood Funders Collaborative are: the W.K. Kellogg Foundation; The Kresge Foundation; the Skillman Foundation; the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation; the McGregor Fund; the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, which manages the fund activities; The Jewish Fund; and the PNC Foundation.

“The Community Foundation is pleased to manage Innovation Fund activities on behalf of the Collaborative,” said Katie Brisson, vice president, program at the Community Foundation for Southeast Michigan, “The Innovation Fund investments are not typical grants. They show a strategic commitment to expanding the capacity of Head Start in Detroit by recruiting new teachers and providing professional development for existing educators and staff.”

Coming Spring 2016

Announcing the Michigan Chronicle/Talmer S.W.A.G. Scholarship Finalists The special edition of ACHIEVE will display the finalists for the Michigan Chronicle/Talmer S.W.A.G. Scholarship Award. Stay tuned to find out who won a scholarship.

For advertising and sponsorship opportunities call 313.963.5522

community

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

May 4-10, 2016

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American Heart Association to host two walks in Southeast Michigan It is time to take control of your health and Both walks feature a timed 5K, kids zone, get walking. The Southeast Michigan American fitness activities and entertainment among Heart Association is set to host the Washtenaw other things. Dogs are welcome at the Wash­ County Heart Walk on May 7 at Eastern Michi- tenaw County Heart Walk, but keep your fourgan University’s Rynearson Stadium while the legged friends at home for the Detroit Heart Detroit Heart Walk Walk. Participants is slated for May 14 at each walk who at Detroit’s West raise $100 will reRiverfront Park. ceive a tee-shirt Each walk is free, among other incenbut individuals are tives. encouraged to reg“Our goal is to ister.

Your real estate expert improve cardio-

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Partnering for Parenting expo in Southfield

Michigan Chronicle Reports

Southfield Youth Assistance, in partnership with the City of Southfield, Oakland County, Southfield Public Schools and Inform Yourself Youth Development, will sponsor a “Partnering for Parenting Summer Camp Expo & Jump Rope Don’t Drink Challenge” on Saturday, May 7, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Southfield Parks & Recreation Building, 26000 Evergreen Road.

The expo will showcase camps, camp scholarship information, related vendors and other community resources available for youth and families, including an Internet safety and cyberbullying presentation and parenting workshop. It will also feature The Jump Rope Don’t Drink Jump Off Challenge, a youth initiative designed to educate young people about the dangers of underage drinking. Participants will receive a jump rope for the challenge for a $2 donation to SYA. Refreshments will also be available forpurchase.

Southfield Youth Assistance is also seeking vendors (camps, schools, child care centers, recreation classes, etc.) to showcase their services. Organizations who are interested in participating can register online at www. syaexpo.eventbrite.com.

Southfield Youth Assistance is a nonprofit 501(c) (3) prevention program that focuses on providing services to youth and their families within the Southfield/Lathrup Village area.

We provide short-term counseling services for youth who need additional support at home, school, or within the community, while also engaging them in positive experiences and enhancing their social, academic, and interpersonal skills.

For more information, contact Paula Johnson, LMSW, at Southfield Youth Assistance at (248) 746-7659 or johnsonpr@oakgov.com.

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Americans die bevascular diseases cause of cardioand stroke by 20 Contact me at: vascular disease, percent by the year making it the num2020,” said Katie ber one killer in Scott, Washtenaw the United States.

County Heart Walk Strokes claim the director. “Getting lives of nearly people active is one 129,000 lives each year making it the number way that we are able to get closer to achieving IF IT SMELLS, IT WON’T SELL five killer of all Americans. Events like the our goal.”

Preparefunds to sell to your home by decluttering and mitigating Heart Walk help raise the necessary Erika Erickson from Fox 2 News will serve anyeducation. unpleasant smells. This will help maximize your profcontinue life-saving research and as the emcee of the Washtenaw County Heart it. Buyers want to walk in to a home that is bright, clean “The Heart Walk is the first step that helps Walk. Taryn Asher of Fox 2 and Sandra McNeil and smells good. If they can smell it, I cannot sell it. For people improve their cardiovascular health,” of WWJ Newsradio 950 will co-emcee the Deexample, dog urine permeates in rooms with carpet and in said Beth Collins, vice president of the Detroit troit Heart Walk. basements. Clean your carpet with special chemicals that Heart Walk. “No matter how physically active a Washtenaw County and Detroit Heart remove dog urine. CleanThe the animal cages or doggy beds person is, they can participate and benefit from Walks promote physical activity and heartand spray them daily with odor eliminators. being a part of our Heart Walks,” said Collins. healthy living in a fun, family environment.

DO NOT use air freshners without cleaning first because “When a person begins walking at least 30 For more info, visit www.washtenawheartwalk. you will have a mix of dog odorand air freshner, which is minutes a day, five days a week, they can help org or www.miheartwalk.org. For additional worse. reduce their risk of coronary heart disease and info about the Detroit walk visit semi.heartDO NOT trust your own nose. It’s very difficult for you to stroke.” walk@heart.org or call 248-936-5782. smell your own home. I recommend you ask someone who doesn’t live in your home to smell each room. Investing in decluttering, minimizing furniture, clothes in the closet and circulating fresh air throughout the home will help sell your house quicker and at the best price.

JustAskJaye@gmail.com or call (248) 298-5000.

Hospice of Michigan offering your questions toat Royal JustAskJaye@gmail.com grief supportSendsessions Oak Park

Hospice of Michigan is offering grief support in an outdoor setting to provide a different environment for individuals seeking those services.

Support in the Park will be held every Thursday afternoon in June at Starr Jaycee Park in Royal Oak. The sessions are open to all who have lost a loved one.

“We think the nice June weather is an opportunity to provide a change of pace for our grief support sessions,” said Claudia Been, grief support services manager at HOM. “Sometimes a change of environment can be beneficial for those who are taking part in these sessions, particularly if they tend to find solace outdoors.”

The sessions are scheduled for 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the park, 1101 W. 13 Mile Road. Participants should meet near the picnic shelter.

A nationally recognized leader in end-of-life

JUST ASK

JAYE!

Your real estate expert

My name is Jaye Sanders and I’m excited about answering your real estate questions. I’m a third generation Detroiter, a proud Spartan and real estate expert with over $10 million in real estate sales. I welcome your questions.

Contact me at: JustAskJaye@gmail.com

or call (248) 298-5000.

IF IT SMELLS, IT WON’T SELL Prepare to sell your home by decluttering and mitigating any unpleasant smells. This will help maximize your profit.

Buyers want to walk in to a home that is bright, clean and smells good. If they can smell it, I cannot sell it. For example, dog urine permeates in rooms with carpet and in basements.

Clean your carpet with special chemicals that remove dog urine. Clean the animal cages or doggy beds and spray them daily with odor eliminators.

care, Hospice of Michigan is the original – and largest – hospice in the state. The nonprofit cares for nearly 1,800 patients each day, raising more than $5 million each year to cover the cost of care for the uninsured and underinsured. HOM offers a broad range of services to enhance the quality of life at the end of life, including community-based palliative care and pediatric care programs. HOM provides grief support and counseling, caregiver education and support, and education programs for physicians and health care professionals through its research, training and education arm, the Hospice of Michigan Institute. In January 2016, HOM joined forces with Arbor Hospice and Palliative Care, strengthening the mission of nonprofit hospice in Michigan to ensure patients and their caregivers receive the highest quality of care.

DO NOT trust your own nose.

It’s very difficult for you to smell your own home. I recommend you ask someone who doesn’t live in your home to smell each room. Investing in decluttering, minimizing furniture, clothes in the closet and circulating fresh air throughout the home will help sell your house quicker and at the best price.

While there is no charge to attend the event, registration is required. For more information or to register, call Been at 248.334.1323.

JustAskJaye@gmail.com

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DO NOT use air freshners without cleaning first because you will have a mix of dog odorand air freshner, which is worse.

Send your questions to

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Get vaccinated today Shingles and pneumonia have serious consequences, but getting vaccinated can help keep you healthy.

Talk to your pharmacist.

Vaccines subject to availability. State-, age- and health-related restrictions may apply. ©2016 Walgreen Co. All rights reserved. 217150-198

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Not leading on police reform

By Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr. Chicago is a city on edge. Last weekend, 20 people were shot over 13 hours.

According to the Chicago Tribune, 1,051 have been shot this year alone, through April 25. One hundred seventy-eight have been killed, more than one each day.

And while shootings take place across the city, they are concentrated in neighborhoods scarred by deep poverty.

At the same time, relations between these most endangered communities and the Chicago Police De- Jesse Jackson partment have been fractured. As Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s own Police Accountability Task Force reported, “CPD’s own data gives validity to the widely held belief the police have no regard for the sanctity of life when it comes to people of color.” It concluded, “The community’s lack of trust in the CPD is justified.” The task force detailed over 100 recommendations for fundamental reform.

These realities cannot be ignored.

Without fundamental reform, the CPD will continue to brutalize too many of the people it is pledged to defend. And without a serious initiative to deal with impoverished communities, the CPD will remain in an impossible position, that of an occupying force trying to keep the peace in communities of deepening misery.

The mayor just released what he calls his “down payment” on the reforms in a five-page memo. It claims to adopt one-third of the task force recommendations. But this is more spin than substance. The mayor’s office takes credit for reforms that it claims to be “in process of designing and developing” or that it has begun to review. It offers tiny steps when giant strides are needed.

Among other measures, the task force called for basic structural reforms.

First, it recommended the creation of a “dedicated inspector general for public safety,” located in the city inspector general’s office, which would “independently audit and monitor CPD and the police oversight system, including for patterns

NNPA News Wire Columnist

As we have seen from recent events in Paris, Brussels and all across the world, terrorism is not an obscure phenomenon that only impacts the Middle East. And no longer can Americans ignore the threat of terrorism as primarily a European problem.

Although attacks in the United States are less frequent due, in part, to our distance from the region, increasingly, leaders associated with terrorist groups are now finding their way onto American soil.

Not only must we be concerned about terrorist cells hiding in communities around the United States, but we Armstrong Williams now also have to worry about domestic Muslim organizations, such as the Islamic Society of Wichita (ISW), providing an outlet for terrorist recruitment and incitement. These very groups that seek to cause us harm now have a place to spread their hateful rhetoric in the U.S. Recently, ISW invited Sheik Monzer Taleb, a man with a long record of fundraising and support for the designated terror group Hamas, to speak at the mosque on Good Friday. Hamas is the Palestinian branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, which gained international notoriety for unleashing suicide terrorism against Israelis. It advocates not only for the complete destruction of the Jewish state, but seeks the genocide of the Jews worldwide.

Taleb is captured on a promotional videotape affirming his allegiance to Hamas, which murdered scores of innocents and has long been deemed a foreign terrorist organization by the U.S. government. As stated in a press release released by the office of Congressman Mike Pompeo (R-Kansas), whose district includes ISW, Talib was named a co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terrorism finance case, in which millions of American dollars were funneled to Hamas.

What is most troubling about this Talib situation is that the Islamic Society of Wichita apparently does not find his Hamas affiliation problematic. In fact,

“The unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement were always the wives and the mothers.”

— Andrew Young

of racial bias.”

It further called for abolishing the Independent Police Review Authority, which it deemed neither independent nor effective. It called instead for a “fully transparent and accountable Civilian Police Investigative Agency” whose head would be selected by a community board, not the mayor.

Finally, it advocated rewriting the city’s contracts with police unions. Collective bargaining agreements, the task force concluded, “create unnecessary barriers to identifying and addressing police misconduct” and “have essentially turned the code of silence into official policy.”

Emanuel has addressed none of these reforms. Nor has he provided any hint of a bold effort to address Chicago’s distress. He’s suggested he may wait for the conclusion of the Department of Justice review that may take a year or more. This appears to be a strategy of delay, waiting for attention to wane. But Chicago’s distress will get worse, not better.

Perhaps the City Council will step up to provide the leadership needed. Two ordinances have been introduced, with dozens of cosponsors, that would create an independent police auditor with civilian oversight along the lines suggested by the task force.

Emanuel’s response to the report doesn’t approach what is needed. He should not only be championing the task force recommendations; he also should be leading an effort at the national, state and local level for a major initiative on deeply impoverished neighborhoods in Chicago and other major cities.

Youth unemployment is at destructive levels. Schools are underfunded and undersupplied. Good jobs are scarce; guns and drugs are readily available. The police need reform. But even a reformed department will have trouble keeping the peace and providing security in neighborhoods deprived of hope. It is time for bold leadership, not foot-dragging and delay. The mayor has used his national profile to lure investment in Chicago’s business districts. Now he should use that energy and visibility to address Chicago’s neglected neighborhoods. That begins with real reform of the police, but it does not end there.

A line crossed

By Armstrong Williams

Quote of the Week:

the ISW likely would not have cancelled his appearance were it not for Congressman Pompeo’s vehement and vocal opposition.

At the core of our democratic society is free speech, an ideal that traces its origins all the way back to ancient Athens. It is a cornerstone of our society and one of the markers of the land of the free. It is disturbingly ironic that IWS has taken this perennial symbol of American freedom and twisted it into a pulpit for hatred and oppression. After all, free speech is nonexistent in a place like Gaza, where Taleb’s vaunted Hamas rules.

We cannot permit radical jihadists to utilize our most sacred values to support their perverse outlook. We should not welcome them into our country, and must deny them the microphone they seek to spread their hateful vitriol.

Proponents of this radical Islamist mindset view the West as a “kurrfars,” or infidels who aren’t worthy of life unless they submit themselves to Islamic law as subjugated “Dhimmis.” We must take use our freedom of speech it to shed light upon and denounce this vulgar hatred.

We simply must not allow freedom of speech to be used against America to recruit new adherents to the warped ideology of terrorism. There is no easy way around this. We need to defend our Constitutional right to speech – yes, even speech we find detestable, but we also must protect our nation and our people from the scourge of terrorism.

In Wichita, we see another case in which a line may have been crossed.

Just as you cannot yell “fire” in a crowded theater, terrorists should not have the right to exploit our democratic society for their macabre gain.

There is a great deal to be learned from what is happening in Europe today.

In many ways their societies have been more open than ours for years, if not as welcoming to immigrants from Muslim lands.

Most Muslims in America may be good citizens who renounce violence.

But organizations like ISW, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and the now-defunct Holy Land Foundation have proven themselves terrorist sympathizers at best and terrorist co-conspirators at worst. If we cannot find a way to cut off the radical indoctrination these organizations espouse, then we could be facing a bloody future that looks more and more like Europe in 2016.

WeWPeople Becoming Obsolete?

We started out in the same place

By James Clingman NNPA News Wire Columnist

Coalition-building is the best way for black people to make the kind of progress we need to make in this country, especially when it comes to economic empowerment.

Some have posited that black people are swiftly becoming obsolete. From the agricultural economy to the industrial and mass production economy black folks, in some cases, had it going on. Many individual blacks James Clingman did quite well with jobs and businesses in those areas. As we moved through the technology/information economy and now into the knowledge-based economy, the rules for survival have changed.

Are black people as a group becoming obsolete? Someone said, “All the shoes have been shined and all the cotton has been picked,” which suggests that black people are no longer needed by white folks, therefore, if we do not change our ways when it comes to business and job development we will indeed become obsolete.

Frederick Douglass, Booker T. Washington and Marcus Garvey spoke of a time when we would have to consider the question of black obsolescence if we did not awaken from our deep sleep and refuse to be dependent upon the largess of others for our sustenance.

The strength we gain from coalescence will bring about this much-needed change, and one major step is to reach out and connect with other likeminded people of African descent. This should be done on a national and an international level, the closest area being just south of our country — the Caribbean.

One of the greatest Africans in modern history was born in Jamaica. Of course, that would be Marcus Mosiah Garvey, who founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA).

Look across the Caribbean and you will

find other Blacks who knew and followed through on solutions; they took action rather than merely talk about their problems. They stood up against aggression, ignorance, and oppression.

They understood and followed through on the value of educating their people, and they subscribed to the lessons their elders left behind.

Haitian history shows us strength and refusal to submit to enslavement; it also shows us resolve and a willingness to help others, as in the case of Haitian soldiers going to Savannah, Georgia to fight against the British in the Siege of Savannah on Oct. 9, 1779, during the U.S. Revolutionary War. We also remember the irrepressible Toussaint L’Ouverture, Jean-Jacques Dessalines, and Henri Christophe, Haitians who led the only successful slave revolt in the western hemisphere.

Many black people came to the United States from the Caribbean and brought with them the same spirit, the same dedication and drive, and the same resolute character that causes men and women to seek for themselves, as Richard Allen taught back in 1767.

Our Caribbean brothers and sisters have come with the determination to do for self, to rely on self, to cooperate with one another, and build an economic system within their own ranks. This article is written in an effort to celebrate our people and establish relationships that will engender cooperation among our people. Marcus Garvey instructed us to do one thing prior to taking on economic empowerment initiatives. He told us to “Organize!” He shared with us the truth about economic empowerment over political empowerment and how we should seek economics first.

He said, “The most important area for the exercise of independent effort is economic. After a people have established successfully a firm industrial foundation they naturally turn to politics and society, but not first to society and politics, because the two latter cannot exist without the former.”

Lessons from Garvey and others have led a precious few of us to implement strategies that, in fact, will lead to economic empowerment; we need many more.

Economic freedom fighter

By Julianne Malveaux NNPA News Wire Columnist

When Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew announced that Harriet Tubman would grace the new $20 bill, my heart sang hallelujah. Additional changes to the currency were also announced.

The back of the $10 bill will now recognize the five leaders of the women’s suffrage movement and the back of the $5 bill to recognize civil rights leaders, and honor historic events from the Lincoln Memorial. The faces on Julianne Malveaux our money will no longer be all pale and male, and that’s progress.

It is especially fitting that Harriet Tubman grace the $20 bill, since she was an economic freedom fighter. She is credited with ushering more than 300 people out of enslavement, many of them family members from the state of Maryland.

She hit slaveholders in the pocketbook, costing them billions of today’s dollars.

If the average enslaved person sold for $1000 (which is about right for 1860), then the 300 she freed cost $300,000 in 1860 dollars, or about $8.3 million in today’s dollars (calculated from The Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index). That’s quite a blow for a slaveholding society to absorb.

Every time an enslaved person ran away, they struck a blow for freedom, and a blow against the economic stability of the South.

Enslavement was at the root of the development of contemporary U.S. capitalism. Black lives were the collateral that plantation owners used to purchase more land, to purchase more slaves, to purchase equipment, to expand. Enslaved people were, in many ways, a form of currency. Harriett Tubman gracing the $20 bill makes perfect sense.

The new $10 bill is supposed to be

available in 2020, nearly four years from now. The new $20 bill may not be available until 2030. The design and production schedule have to be approved by the Federal Reserve Board. That shouldn’t be much of a challenge. Fed Chairman Janet Yellen has hailed the decision to put Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill, and many have applauded the other elements of currency design. Perhaps the Fed can be lobbied to speed the production schedule up. I can’t wait to cash a check and ask for my money in “Harriets.”

As exciting as the currency design is, it is a symbolic, not a substantive change. Real change would close the income gap between men and women. Real change would close the racial economic gap. Real change would take a look at the reparations issue.

In this last year of his presidency, President Obama could use his executive order to appoint a commission to look into issues of racial economic justice. He could make an amazing, if belated, contribution by bringing the reparations issue to the economic forefront.

The Black Lives Matter community has raised the reparations issue with both Democratic Presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. President Obama would do his successor a favor by starting the public work on this key issue.

I suppose we have to reconcile ourselves to progress at a snail’s pace, to symbolism, not substance. Still, the image our economic freedom fighter on the twenty-dollar bill will be inspirational for all of us, especially for the young people who don’t know all of the sordid details of our history of enslavement.

I hope that as we talk about Harriet Tubman on the money, we also talk about the economic impact she had on the institution of slavery by freeing those 300 people. This is part of the history we must never forget, and Tubman’s presence on the $20 will help us to remember.

The most exciting thing about the presence of Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill is the way that the change came about. The public was engaged.

community

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

May 4-10, 2016

Page B-5

Community Network Services supports Mental Health Month May is Mental Health Month! Community Network Services (CNS) recognizes Mental Health Month on behalf of its 265 devoted employees, the 5,000 plus customers it annually serves as well as the residents of Oakland and Wayne counties.

CNS maintains it is important to support mental health during May and every day. To that end, during Mental Health Month, CNS is introducing its new, upgraded literature. The materials have been revised with an objective to educate CNS’ customers and the publicat-large about mental health, stigma, integrated health care, crisis intervention, and numerous other services and supportive activities available at CNS’ six locations.

According to CNS President/CEO Michael K. Garrett, “stigma is one of the biggest barriers associated with mental health. Through its many services, CNS is committed to educating people about the importance of mental health, and eliminating stigma.”

Maurice King

Detroit sailor serves aboard U.S. Navy destroyer

By Petty Officer 3rd Class Abigail Rader

required warfighting expertise and operational flexibility to execute any tasking overseas.

Navy Public Affairs Support Element

A 2014 Renaissance High School graduate and Detroit native is serving in the U.S. Navy aboard the guided missile destroyer, USS Milius.

Seaman Maurice King is a cryptologic technician (technical) aboard the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer operating out of San Diego, California.

A Navy cryptologic technician is responsible for tracking electronic systems for missiles and potential threats to our systems and the United States.

“I love being exposed to all the technology and being able to learn all of it,” said King.

Commissioned in November of 1996, Milius measures approximately 500 feet and is powered by four gas turbines that allow the destroyer to achieve over 30 mph in open seas. Destroyers are tactical multi-mission surface combatants capable of conducting anti-air warfare, anti-submarine warfare and anti-surface warfare, as well as humanitarian assistance. Fast, maneuverable, and technically advanced, destroyers provide the

“Leading Milius sailors is exceptionally rewarding because they genuinely care for one another as people,” said Cmdr. Gil Ayan, commanding officer of USS Milius. “They want to see one another succeed and each of them works toward that collective goal. As a commanding officer, you can’t ask for a better culture than that.”

With a crew of over 300 sailors, jobs are highly specialized and keep each part of the destroyer running smoothly, according to Navy officials. The jobs range from washing dishes and preparing meals to maintaining engines and handling weaponry.

“I love meeting all the new people and experiencing the different cultures of the people aboard the ship,” said King.

Challenging living conditions build strong fellowship among the crew, Navy officials explained. The crew is highly motivated, and quickly adapt to changing conditions. It is a busy life of specialized work, watches, and drills.

“Serving in the Navy means being a part of something bigger than myself,” added King.

Numerous mental health organizations provide statistical data about the millions of Americans affected by mental health conditions every year. Following are a few facts about the pervasiveness and effects of mental health in the United States (U.S.).

Did you know?

• Approximately • • • • • • •

27% of adults have a mental illness in any given year Only 41% of adults in the U.S. with a mental health condition received mental health services in the past year 97% of violent crimes are committed by people who do not have a mental health diagnosis Approximately 105 people commit suicide every day in the U.S. Approximately 20% of people who commit suicide are veterans of the U.S. Military Among the 20.2 million adults in the U.S. who experienced a substance abuse disorder, 50.5%, had a co-occurring mental illness 70% of youth in juvenile justice systems have at least one mental health condition An estimated 26% of homeless adults staying in shelters live with serious mental illness

Based on the firmly-held belief that knowledge is power, Community Network Services is dedicated to increasing awareness about mental health in the communities it serves, every day. The

information and services provided by CNS are best-of-class. Community Network Services has the highest level of accreditation and certification in mental health services through the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). CNS’ CARF certification is a qualified endorsement that the services provided by CNS conform to national and international recognized service standards.

Community Network Services, Inc. is a private, non-profit human services agency that provides comprehensive, integrated behavioral and physical health care services, which includes substance use disorder, mental health disorder and/or co-occurring and/or physical health services. Community Network Services has Oakland County offices in Farmington Hills, Waterford, Pontiac and Southfield, and Dearborn and Lincoln Park offices in Wayne County.

For more information about CNS call 800.615.0411 or visit www.cnsmi.org.

Northwest Activities Center unveils refurbished Fifth Third Bank Gym

By Tony Foster On Tuesday, April 26, officials from Northwest Activities Center, the city of Detroit and Fifth Third Bank dedicated its new gym which will be named Fifth Third Bank Gym at Northwest Activities Center. Pistons great, Dave Bing, NBA Hall of Famer, a member of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players Team and former mayor of Detroit, was the guest of honor and shot the ceremonial first basket.

Fifth Third Bank has been working with Northwest Activities Center since 2012 to renovate the facilities and service the banking needs of the individuals that use the center. The program is part of the 5/3 In The D initiative. To date, areas of the center that have been improved include showers, restrooms, upgrading the ballroom and adding a fully furnished Ideation Lab with bank-sponsored computer classes on Macintosh computer stations.

Fifth Third Bank has invested over $1.2 million with the additional $50,000 to repair the gym floor. A community branch, the first of its kind in Detroit, was also installed and is accessible to the 300,000 annual center patrons.

They are able to take care of their banking needs as well as improve their financial literacy through educational programming.

ONE DAY SALE SAT, MAY 7 9AM-11PM

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DOORBUSTERS! 9AM-2PM FRI & SAT DEALS OF THE DAY ALL DAY, BOTH DAYS! OR, USE THIS SAVINGS PASS FRIDAY OR SATURDAY UNTIL 2PM EXTRA DOLLARS OFF SELECT SALE & CLEARANCE CLOTHING & HOME ITEMS

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YOUR PURCHASE OF $5O OR MORE. LIMIT ONE PER CUSTOMER. VALID 5/6 ’TIL 2PM OR 5/7/16 ’TIL 2PM

CANNOT BE USED ON DOORBUSTERS OR DEALS OF THE DAY Excludes ALL: cosmetics/fragrances, Deals of the Day, Doorbusters/web busters, electrics/electronics, Everyday Values (EDV), furniture/mattresses, Last Act, Macy’s Backstage, rugs, specials, super buys, All-Clad, Breville, Dyson, Fitbit, Frye, Hanky Panky, Jack Spade, Kate Spade, KitchenAid Pro Line, Le Creuset, Levi’s, Marc Jacobs, Michele watches, New Era, Nike on Field, Sam Edelman, Samsung watches, Shun, Stuart Weitzman, The North Face, Theory, Tumi, Vitamix, Wacoal, Wüsthof, athletic clothing, shoes & accessories; Dallas Cowboys merchandise, designer jewelry, gift cards, jewelry trunk shows, macys.com, previous purchases, select licensed depts., services, special orders, special purchases, tech watches. Cannot be combined with any savings pass/coupon, extra discount or credit offer, except opening a new Macy’s account. Dollar savings are allocated as discounts off each eligible item, as shown on receipt. When you return an item, you forfeit the savings allocated to that item. This coupon has no cash value and may not be redeemed for cash, used to purchase gift cards or applied as payment or credit to your account. Purchase must be $25 or $50 or more, exclusive of tax and delivery fees.

ONE DAY SALE PRICES IN EFFECT 5/6 & 5/7/2016, EXCEPT AS NOTED. OPEN A MACY’S ACCOUNT FOR EXTRA 20% SAVINGS THE FIRST 2 DAYS, UP TO $100, WITH MORE REWARDS TO COME. Macy’s credit card is available subject to credit approval; new account savings valid the day your account is opened and the next day; excludes services, selected licensed departments, gift cards, restaurants, gourmet food & wine. The new account savings are limited to a total of $100; application must qualify for immediate approval to receive extra savings; employees not eligible. N6040096.

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Commercial and residential development of Hudson’s site to include low-income housing

By Goran Detroit’s iconic Hudson’s block, which has sat empty since the department store’s flagship location closed in 1983, is now on the verge of a transformational development that would bring 250 new residential units and 225,000 sq.-ft. of new commercial/retail space to the heart of downtown Detroit.

Today, the Downtown Development Authority, chaired by Mayor Mike Duggan, approved an amendment to its development agreement with Rosko Development, an affiliate of Bedrock Detroit, to allow it to build a highrise development on the site that could be one of the most significant construction projects in downtown Detroit’s history.

The project also includes firm commitments from Bedrock for hiring Detroiters and providing 20% affordable housing units across its residential developments that receive city incentives.

“This is the Hudson’s block development Detroiters have waited three decades to see happen,” said Mayor Mike Duggan. “Its impact will be felt far beyond downtown into our neighborhoods for years to come through the construction jobs, fulltime jobs and countless other opportunities that will be created as a result.”

The Hudson’s site has sat empty since the department store, once the tallest in the world, was demolished 18 years ago. Since then, the City of Detroit has used the site as an underground parking garage (Premier Garage).

The development agreement requires Bedrock to buy Premier Garage from the City of Detroit for $15 million. Chief Financial Officer John Hill led the city’s negotiation on the Premier Garage sale. “The $15 million purchase price was based on an appraised value of $16.5 million, less $1.5 million in deferred maintenance,” Hill said. “We will use the proceeds of the sale to reduce the city’s outstanding debts.”

The purchase agreement also requires Bedrock Detroit to hire Detroit residents for the construction of the Hudson’s project under City of Detroit Executive Order 2014-4, which establishes thresholds for local hiring.

As part of the property sale, the company proposes entering into an affordable housing agreement with the City of Detroit.

Through the agreement, Bedrock Detroit commits to developing affordable housing throughout Greater Downtown and Brush Park. Specifically, Bedrock will develop a number of affordable units equal to 20% of the next 1,350 rental units they develop.

“The Hudson’s project is a unique, once-in-a-generation opportunity that we hope will transform the landscape of downtown Detroit,” said Jeff Cohen, CEO of Rock Companies. “Our vision is to create an iconic structure that all Detroiters can enjoy, while also providing additional retail, housing and commercial space that the city needs to continue its transformation.”

The DDA agreed to transfer the air rights above the former Hudson’s site to Rock Ventures, the umbrella entity for Dan Gilbert’s portfolio of business and real estate investments, in 2007 as part of the agreement that brought Quicken Loans to Downtown Detroit. The agreement required Quicken bring 1,500 jobs to the city. Since moving Downtown in 2010, Quicken and its affiliated companies, have created more than 13,000 jobs and invested $2.2 billion in the city.

The investment includes breathing new life into 90 buildings in the urban core, helping to fuel the most rapid downtown transformation in modern history.

A land transfer agreement and the affordable housing agreement will be submitted to City Council for approval within the next three weeks. Budgetary approval will also be required from the Financial Review Commission. Pending approval, construction is expected to begin April 2017.

Chapman Jewelry and Gifts: Four generations strong

By Keith A. Owens Senior Editor

For the record, the Chapman men didn’t just up and decide to open a jewelry store one day.

Chapman Jewelry and Gifts, now located at 10535 West 7 Mile Road, has been in business since 1964 when Eli Chapman first opened its doors near downtown. Not that longevity automatically confers respectability. A lot of businesses have been around awhile, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s where you want to go. What you want is a business that has not only been around a long time, but that knows what they’re doing.

The Chapmans want you to rest assured that they, indeed, do know what they are doing. Just like Eli Chapman knew what he was doing back in the early ‘60s when he was determined to make his way in the jewelry business, despite the persistent racism and discrimination that seemed to greet him at every door where he sought to find entry.

“He started off selling radios. And a little costume jewelry,” said Richard Chapman, who now runs the store with the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation of Chapman

men, including his son, Arthur, and his brother Eric.

“You know John R and Woodward used to be the Metropolitan Building. That’s where all the jewelers were, and they were all Jewish at the time. And he walked around that building – and I can remember, I was just a little kid – nobody would sell him anything. And he ran up on this one guy, his name was Harry Weinberger.

And Harry Weinberger was the Midwest distributor of Panasonic. This was when Panasonic was an off brand. He asked my father one question; he said, ‘Is your money green?’ And they stayed together ‘til death did them part. They were just super tight. Old Jewish guy, nice as he could be, and he loved my father. So as he grew, he became one of the biggest jewelers before they moved out to northwest side,” he said.

“Also at that time we were downtown at Grand River and Woodward. Hudson’s.

Meijers. And then our building was called Glick’s, right at the corner of Grand River and Woodward. We bought that, and we were there from the ‘70s, ‘80s, got out of there early ‘90s and went downtown. But we’ve been here since ’78.”

A picture of Eli Chapman in his army

uniform rests in an honorary location in the shop, where all the visitors and customers can see the man who started it all. Today, the Chapman business is doing well thanks to customer loyalty and repeat business that has been cultivated over many years.

“We are just truly blessed in that we have so many nice people, you know?

People who go out of their way, may even pass some places, to come to us. You know their mother and their daddy, then you know their kids, and then you know their grandkids.”

“We do all kind of repairs. Jewelry, watches, even costume jewelry and gold jewelry repairs and sales.”

“Thank goodness for repairs. We wouldn’t survive without repairs,” said Eric Chapman, Richard’s brother. “I don’t know if it accounts for most sales, but it’s definitely a foundation. One gold jewelry sale you can make up for maybe 25 watch repairs, but it certainly is a good foundation. And we sell more watch batteries than anything.”

Richard adds, “The thing about batteries and watch repair is that leads you

See CHAMPMAN Page C-2

How to survive generational transition in a family business If you’re part of a family business, there’s good news and bad news, says Family Business USA president Henry Hutcheson.

More than 70 percent of all businesses in the United States are family businesses, generating more than half of the U.S. Gross National Product (GNP). However, two out of three don’t survive to the next generation, and with 500,000 new businesses starting each month in the United States, family businesses are replaced at a rapid rate.

How does a family business remain on the plus side of these statistics?

“There are a number of sound practices while sustaining a family business,” Hutcheson says, “but there’s a big difference between working with your children and lining up your succession plan with your kids in mind.”

Hutcheson, author of “Dirty Little Secrets of Family Business” (dirtylittlesecretsoffamilybusiness.com), provides tips for dealing with the biggest threat to a family business – surviving transition to the next generation.

• Identify your children’s individual strengths. It’s impossible for your son or daughter to think and act exactly like you. If you’re the founder of the business, this may be even more difficult to keep in mind because you started a business from scratch. Your children may not have the same entrepreneurial spirit. That’s perfectly okay, because your business is in a different stage from when you started it. While experience has given you a large bank of knowledge, allow your successor to shine and contribute at their pace. Guide them gently; they will want to do some things their own way. Let them know when they’ve done something exceptional, especially if you wouldn’t have

thought of it.

• Expose your children to all aspects of the job. Merchandising, production, management, buying, marketing, financial planning – the list goes on regarding all the things to understand in general management. You may not be an expert in all areas, but you know more than the average employee. To start preparing your children for the top position, they must understand how things work at the bottom.

When they’ve spent time in the trenches, they better comprehend operations, and the kind of people they’ll need to employ in the future.

• Stretch your children’s abilities by having them work for another company. The period after graduation is a scary phase of life, but jumping into the family business right away isn’t the best move. Children

have an urge to distinguish themselves from their parents, and working for another company is a great way to do so. Let them spread their wings, learn new things and appreciate small victories outside of the business. If and when they choose to work for the family business, they’ll feel better about the decision.

“A mentoring relationship toward the next generation is also extremely helpful,” Hutcheson says. “It provides a realistic but loving perspective.”

Henry Hutcheson is president of Family Business USA (www.familybusinessusa.com) and specializes in helping family and privately held businesses successfully manage transition, maintain harmony, and improve operations. He is a popular speaker at professional, university and corporate-sponsored events.

business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

May 4-10, 2016

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The battle over Paisley Park is going to be one big mess

By Harry C. Alford

thorough will, but debate still lives in the matter of his estate.

NNPA News Wire Columnist

Perhaps one of the greatest entertainers of all time suddenly left us on April 21, 2016. Kay and I were on a plane heading to Los Angeles when it came across the screen. I was in shock and it wasn’t but a few minutes before tears came into my eyes. It was so sad as this guy was supposed to live many more years. But nothing in life is guaranteed.

Memories started to float in my head. This skinny, light-skinned, processed hair wearing guy singing falsetto and wearing nothing on stage but a diaper and high heeled shoes.

Once you got over the shocking sight you would realize that his music was unique and the whole world was instantly loving it.

Kay’s brother, Chuck, would start working his tours with his close friend Billy Sparks. Remember the nightclub owner in the movie “Purple Rain.”

That was Billy and he played the role so naturally. Soon the stories of Prince were being relayed to us on a first hand basis. Chuck would be hired and fired again and again. Prince was temperamental and made quick decisions that would be sometimes taken back.

All in all, we got great performance tickets.

It became clear to everyone in the music business – Prince was a genius. He left this earth with thousands of unreleased songs in “the vault.” That will become one of the many “crystal balls” that will come into play while family members try to figure out just how much money and value he has left. Since his death over 4 million albums have been sold.

On the same day as his death 239,000 albums were sold and over 1.034 million song downloads

Get ready. The saga of the Prince estate will become historic. Maybe as they drill holes into the stored vault in his recording studio an authentic will may come to light. I doubt it. It was just Prince’s style to be mysterious and cause a little “Controversy” as documented in one of his first hits.

I envision Prince going before St. Peter and shouting, “Baby, you’re much too fast.”

were tracked by Nielsen.

His estate is growing larger and larger by the day.

How do we total it? It is a moving target and the courts, IRS and countless attorneys will be tussling with this big behemoth for years to come. First off, there doesn’t appear to be a will. They are searching but have no idea where one would be. He was so private and secretive.

Prince has one full sibling, his sister, Tyka, who is stepping up to help get a handle on this situation. There are three half siblings that his father had after the divorce of his parents. His mother, likewise, produced three half siblings. Right now, they all seem to be talking to each other and have not “lawyered up.” Tyka has employed a reputable attorney and has agreed to Bremer Trust Bank to manage the estate funds.

Prince had used them for his financial affairs so that makes something consistent here.

Then there will soon be a bunch of “baby mamas” claiming to have delivered a child of Prince. DNA tests will become an ongoing thing. If one hits that will throw another monkey wrench in the

process of dividing up the estate that is at least worth over $500 million and is growing day to day.

His assets such as his recording studio/mansion Paisley Park are appreciating assets. The whole compound may become a tourist attraction the same way “Graceland” for the Elvis Presley estate, which delivers millions of dollars to the Presley estate each year.

His catalogue will be almost priceless – especially with the thousands of songs they have yet to release. This will be the key to all interested parties. Let me make this clear: the most interested and consistent party will be the Internal Revenue Service. The federal estate tax will clock about 40 percent of all perceived value and the state of Minnesota will come in and snatch another 16 percent. Yes, the government will be a very active “partner” claiming value and assessing taxes every step along the way of settling the estate of Prince Rogers Nelson. There will be many skirmishes in the courts as different parties will have different assessments.

secret. Will those entities, who have been quietly and consistently receiving funding start speaking out and claiming a piece of the future growth?

Who will have the authority to declare the price

on “name and image?”

Michael Jackson’s estate has much activity between Michael’s mother and the IRS. Sometimes they are “miles” apart on each assessment. Keep in mind, Michael had a very

Harry Alford is the president, CEO and co-founder of the National Black Chamber of Commerce® (NBCC). For more information about the NBCC, visit http:// www.nationalbcc.org or e-mail Harry at halford@ nationalbcc.org.

Chapman into the next sale. And when the economy is bad, people want to get it fixed.

When they perk up a little bit, they see a new one they want. Someone comes in today for a battery and I’m gonna sell him a new watch. One of these blackowned watch companies like Benjamin Banneker. You know Benjamin Banneker’s story? He made the first clock in America. Free black man. He made the clock out of wood. He borrowed a pocket watch from one of his neighbors, white guy, looked at it, and made the clock out of wood. All of these watches have wood faces kind of in honor to him.”

But the customer loyalty doesn’t only come from the quality of the work that they have come to expect, or from the products they carry that you might not be able to find anywhere else. It also comes from the commitment the family has to the community, and their refusal to let anything – anything - get in the way of operating their business and keeping their doors open on time just like the patriarch taught them. For example, there was that time near the end of March when some fool ran a truck through the back wall of the store. On purpose.

Prince was very phil“They got in here for about 4 minanthropic, but he kept his donations a very big utes and they stole some cufflinks and some costume jewelry. They did $10,000

From page C-1 worth of damage and they got $200 worth of stuff. The wall is fixed, and we didn’t miss a day. We weren’t closed one day.

The point is, we not letting them run us away. We ain’t movin, we ain’t closing.

We don’t know what else to do…. I can’t ever remember us having the discussion about whether we would close. We never had that discussion. But we did have a discussion when the lottery was $200 million and I said if I don’t show up Tuesday, you know what happened.”

But until that lottery number does drop, the Chapmans continue to come to work every day as they have for the past 50 years, enjoying what they do and hoping their customers see that joy reflected in the services they provide.

Richard’s son Arthur said he looks forward to continuing the family tradition.

“I think it’s really my charge as a Chapman to continue the business. It’s definitely afforded me a lot of opportunities, and just education. I can’t tell you how many people recognize me as a Chapman, on the street, no matter what I’m involved in, and bring up the business. So it’s always been a good source of pride for me. I’ve always thought that the business would have to continue through me. I definitely understood that at a young age.”

Detroiter Deborah Virgiles Lived Life to the Fullest

Sadly, the Detroit community lost one of its most successful, joyous and caring woman entrepreneurs when Deborah Virgiles passed away unexpectedly last week.

Deborah Virgiles will be remembered for her big heart and even bigger laugh; always making the time to listen to and help someone in need; and motivating and teaching so many young people how to get a proper start in their adult work lives.

As Owner/Operator of McDonald’s locations at Woodward and Willis and Grand River and the Southfield Freeway, Virgiles was admired, loved and respected by her customers, employees, colleagues, contacts at philanthropic organizations across Detroit and, of course, her wonderful family. Through hard work, commitment, energy and passion, she proved that there is a strong place for Black women in the business world.

“She was kind-hearted, generous and compassionate, always the one to listen to you; just an extraordinary person. She was my best friend,” said her daughter, Dominique Virgiles, who was fortunate enough to work side-by-side with her mother at the restaurants for many years, starting as a crew person during high school and college, then full-time after graduation from Wayne State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

“What I will remember most is her smiling face.

There was never really a time when my mom was mad about anything. When she came around, she lit up the room,” she added.

A legacy of giving back. Born and raised in Detroit, the sixth of twelve children born to Johnnie Green, Sr. and Bertha Green, Virgiles began working as a cashier with McDonald’s during her senior year at Chadsey High School.

After high school, a steady succession of positions, management training at McDonald’s corporate offices, and mentoring by former employer and McDonald’s franchisee Dr. William Pickard led to the offer of becoming an owner. Virgiles acquired her first McDonald’s location in 1996.

Right from the start of her outstanding McDonald’s career of more than four decades, Virgiles was all-business in a good way, remembers her sister, Patricia Simmons, the oldest girl among the family’s eight girls and four boys.

“Coming from a large family, we always had chores, which instilled in us a great work ethic. When Deborah started working at McDonald’s, she was consistent in her work ethic,” Simmons noted.

“A lot of people were able to get jobs through Deborah. But even if it was a relative, she would say to them, ‘This is not just a job, it’s a business. I expect you to do your best and respect the customer and treat them well.’”

“Deborah was a good soul, she believed in sharing and giving back. She had a big heart, was very thoughtful and very loving. She will be missed terribly,” Simmons added.

Moreover, Virgiles always understood how to connect the world of a business with the life and needs of its supporting community. She started with those who worked for her. She used to say to her staff, “Never give up. Whatever dreams you want to accomplish at McDonald’s, you have the support of your managers and owner/operators.”

Her generosity and concern extended to the community at large, churches, schools, businesses, neighborhoods, friends and families. Virgiles was very involved at her church, Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church. She was past president of the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit and enthusiastically recruited supporters to attend fundraisers. She would host McTeacher Nights®, where teachers and staff work behind the counters and purchases raise funds for schools.

Among other activities and awards, Virgiles also served on the board of directors of Don Bosco Hall, helped raise funds for the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History, and was honored recently with a Spirit of Detroit Award from the Detroit City Council in “recognition of exceptional achievement, outstanding leadership and dedication to improving the quality of life.”

These are among Deborah Virgiles’ many gifts to our world.

“She was a great leader, someone who didn’t settle for being average, who taught you to reach for the top,” said very close friend and colleague Maurene Smith. “I will miss her spirit, her energy and her enthusiasm.”

Virgiles is survived by her daughter, Dominique; cherished companion Melvin Jones; and her siblings Patricia Simmons (David), Shandra Childs-Thomas (David), Rev. Johnnie Green (Kathi), Dorothy Capers (William), Katrina Goldsmith (Benjamin), Reginald Green (Latita), Derrick Green (Vivian), Valeria Chavez (Jaime), Vanessa Jordan, Richard Green (Loria) and Juanita Green. Virgiles is also survived by over forty nieces and nephews. Virgiles is predeceased by her parents, Johnnie and Bertha Green, and her late husband Eugene Virgiles, Jr. Visitation with viewing will be held on Thursday, May 5 from 4 to 8 p.m. at O.H. Pye, III Funeral Home at 17600 Plymouth Road in Detroit. The Memorial Service will be held at Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church at 2080 W. Grand Blvd. in Detroit at 11 a.m. on Friday, May 6 following a family hour.

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

May 4-10, 2016

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Michigan downtowns benefit from revamped Main Street Revitalization Strategy A new brand and refreshed approach will bring resources and much-needed energy to Michigan’s ongoing effort to revitalize historic downtowns and commercial districts. The effort is based on a partnership among the National Main Street Center, Inc., and a network of 45 state, city, and county-level Main Street coordinating programs, including the Michigan Main Street program at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

These changes include a new name for the Main Street Network, which will now be called Main Street America.

The partnership builds on the critical role Main Streets have played, and will continue to play in the return to the city movement sweeping urban areas and small towns alike all across the United States.

“For more than three decades, the Main Street Approach has helped communities identify their distinctive assets and capitalize on them to breathe new life in our country’s historic downtowns and commercial districts,” said Patrice Frey, President and CEO of the National

Main Streets Center, Inc. “This revised framework and fresh look will ensure that Main Streets are equipped to deal with new challenges facing downtowns and commercial districts today, and will help our network take advantage of the social, economic, and cultural changes that will continue to favor vibrant downtowns in the future,” she said.

The State of Michigan has partnered with the National Main Street Center since 2003 to stimulate the revitalization of 92 communities in Michigan.

In that time, the Michigan Main Street communities have accrued $148.9 million in private investment, created a net 309 new businesses and 1,237 net new jobs, through the efforts of 439,205 volunteer hours.

“We are excited about the opportunities the National Refresh provides and to begin working with it in our communities,” said Laura Krizov, manager of the Main Street program at the MEDC. “We feel that the Michigan Main Street Program has been moving our communities in this direction for the last sever-

al years. It will be exciting to really start looking at the market to help define our communities develop the strategies for their communities.”

Originally launched as a program of the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1980, the National Main Street Center pioneered an incremental, volunteer-driven strategy to help flagging downtowns counteract booming suburban growth—a novel approach that was in stark contrast to the urban renewal

projects that were destroying commercial districts and neighborhoods all over the country.

By tapping two important community resources, citizen participation and its older and historic buildings, the Main Street Four-Point Approach has helped historic downtowns and urban commercial districts regain their stature as centers of America’s culture, commerce, and economy while preserving their unique character.

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THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE business ‘10,000 Small Businesses’ graduation at Oakland Community College Michigan Chronicle Reports

On Wednesday, May 4, at 4 p.m. Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses,” Detroit, celebrates the graduation of more than 60 small-business owners who have completed a rigorous education, coaching and business support module and are ready to deepen their contributions to Southeast Michigan’s economy. The Goldman Sachs “10,000 Small Businesses’ initiative aims to help create jobs and economic growth by providing small-business owners in the area with practical business education, business support services and access to capital.

The “10,000 Small Businesses” graduation will take place at Oakland Community College, Royal Oak Campus in The Lila R. Jones-Johnson Theater.

OCC’s Royal Oak campus is located at 739 S. Washington Ave. in Royal Oak. Speakers for the prestigious event include: Jack Aronson, founder, Garden Fresh Gourmet and Clean Planet Foods; L. Brooks Patterson, Oakland County Executive; Chancellor Timothy Meyer, Oakland Community College; President James Jacobs, Macomb Community College; Camille Walker Banks, Director, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Detroit at Wayne State University; James Michelson Jr., President, SMZ Advertising (10,000 Small Businesses graduate), Renée T. Walker, President, RENEE WALKER & ASSOCIATES (10,000 Small Businesses graduate) Goldman Sachs launched “10,000 Small Businesses” in Detroit and Southeast Michigan in November 2013, and committed $20 million for small-business loans, business education and grants for supporting community part-

ners. The business owners who graduate May 4 participated in more than 100 hours of curriculum delivered across 11 sessions by a consortium of higher education institutions, made up of Macomb Community College, Oakland Community College and Wayne State University, studying a business and management curriculum designed by Babson College.

The curriculum covered accounting, human resources, negotiation and marketing, among other topics. The program also included one-on-one business advising and accounting workshops. Capital partners are Invest Detroit and the Detroit Development Fund.

National program findings show that, within six and 18 months of completing the program, alumni of the10,000 Small Businesses program generally grow their revenue and create jobs faster than U.S. small businesses. According to the latest study, in Southeast Michigan, 73.5 percent of participants realized increased revenues six months after graduating from the program, and 51.9 percent added net new jobs six months after graduating from the program. To date, more than 200 small-business owners in Southeast Michigan have graduated from the program.

10,000 Small Businesses is funded

by Goldman Sachs and the Goldman Sachs Foundation. The program is guided by an advisory council co-chaired by Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd C. Blankfein, Warren Buffett, and Dr. Michael Porter of Harvard Business School.

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Detroit is currently accepting applications for its eighth cohort, launching in August 2016.

Visit 10ksbdetroit.com for more information.

Senators Stabenow, Peters to hold to hold pension fund executives accountable for benefit cuts U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Gary Peters (D-MI) announced the introduction of the Pension Fund Integrity Act of 2016 (S. 2894), which would cut pay and prevent raises and bonuses for top pension fund executives if retirees’ benefits are cut. The Central States Pension Fund has submitted an application to the U.S. Department of Treasury that would drastically cut pension benefits for roughly 270,000 retirees across the country. If approved, some retirees could see their pensions reduced as much as 50 to 70 percent. Meanwhile, the top executive of the Central States Pension Fund earned nearly $700,000 in 2014. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Claire McCaskill (D-MO), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN).

The Pension Fund Integrity Act of 2016 would cut excessive executive compensation and stop raises and bonuses for executives as long as the benefit cuts are in place. The amount of the executive pay cut would be determined by calculating the percentage of cuts for retirees most impacted by the reduced pension benefits. The bill also prohibits financially troubled pension plans from using plan assets to hire outside lobbying firms. As just one example, the Central States Pension Fund has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to pay outside lobbyists in recent years to lobby on issues including passing legislation to allow retiree benefits to be cut.

“A pension is a promise that’s earned, and workers should be able to count on them when they retire,” said Stabenow. “It’s completely unacceptable for top executives at Central States earned hundreds of thousands of dollars a year while at the same time, pension benefits for retirees who worked hard their en-

tire lives are being slashed. The Pension Fund Integrity Act will hold pension fund executives accountable if retirees’ benefits are cut, and I will continue to do everything I can to protect hardworking retirees’ pensions.”

May 4-10, 2016

D L O

S

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T U O

The Revitalization of a Region” FORUM III Thursday, May 19, 2016 7:30 a.m.

Detroit Athletic Club

241 Madison Avenue, Detroit, MI 48226

Guest speakers

“Thousands of Michigan retirees depend on the pensions they have earned through years of hard work to afford housing, food, health care, and other critical necessities,” said Peters. “It is simply outrageous that plan executives have proposed cutting retiree pensions by as much as 70 percent, but continue to earn six-figure salaries and large bonuses. This bill is a key piece of broader efforts to increase oversight for pension plans and to prevent steep cuts to the benefits retirees have earned and depend on.”

The Pension Fund Integrity Act will: Cut excessive executive compensation — This bill will cut excessive compensation for executives at the largest financially troubled plans. The U.S. Department of Treasury would determine the executive pay cut by calculating the percentage of cuts for retirees most impacted by the reduced pension benefits.

This would only take effect if the benefit cuts are approved by Treasury.

Michael e. Duggan

Warren c. evans

Mayor, City of Detroit

Wayne County exeCutive

arn TelleM

Daniel J. loepp

Stop raises and bonuses for executives — This bill will also stop executives from receiving raises or bonuses for as long as the benefit cuts are in effect. This would effectively freeze their compensation.

Prohibit financially troubled pension plans from using plan assets to hire outside lobbying firms- This bill will prohibit a financially troubled plan could not hire outside lobbying firms to influence legislation. Employees of the plan could still lobby.

Metro Detroit arts and cultural organizations invited to apply for operating support grants from The Kresge Foundation $4.8 million available to nonprofits in tri-county area

revitalization. That work, in turn, contributes to green, healthy, active neighborhoods as well as a thriving city core.”

This summer, The Kresge Foundation will award grants totaling $4.8 million over three years to small, mid-size and large arts and arts and cultural organizations in metro Detroit’s tri-county area of Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties.

Since 2007, Kresge has provided nearly $20 million in operating support to more than 80 arts and cultural organizations of all sizes in metropolitan Detroit’s three-county region. In 2014 alone, $4.5 million was awarded over two years to more than 60 organizations. A similar number of awards is anticipated in the 2016-2019 cycle. The change from a two- to three-year grant period, Jacobsen says, reflects feedback from organizations that longer duration would enhance their stability and ability to engage in longer-range planning.

Detroit Arts Support grants provide unrestricted operating dollars to organizations in the performing, visual and literary arts. Funding through the initiative, which was established in 2007, is also available to institutions engaged in arts service, education and broadcasting.

Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, May 18, for the grants, which range from $5,000 to $75,000 per year and may not exceed 10 percent of an organization’s annual budget. Grant applications are accepted only through the foundation’s online application system.

“A stronger arts and cultural sector enriches the quality of life for residents of all ages and makes visiting the region a richer, more attractive experience,” says George Jacobsen, senior program officer of Kresge’s Detroit Program. “At the same time, this support helps arts and cultural organizations fulfill their roles in community engagement and

viCe ChairMan of palaCe sports & entertainMent

presiDent & Ceo Blue Cross Blue shielD of MiChiGan

Sponsored by

Detroit Arts Support grants are intended to provide flexible funding to support the core programs and services of nonprofit organizations devoted to arts and culture, particularly organizations that do any or all of the following: • Increase opportunities for cultural and artistic participation and creative expression for people of all backgrounds in the Detroit area, particularly low-income individuals and people of color.

• Contribute to metropolitan Detroit’s identity and cultural and economic vitality of the region.

• Engage and support regional artists.

• Build on and strengthen existing arts and cultural assets and infrastructure.

Join the conversation #pancakespolitics

business

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

May 4-10, 2016

Some Get the Gold Mine-Others Get the Shaft!

By Tom Watkins If you want to know why much of the county seems ready to reach for the pitch forks and vote for "The Bern" or even "The Donald" look no further than this headline – “GM’s CEO 2015 Compensation rises 77 percent to $28.6 million”.

A 77% increase for GM ‘s stop staffer (nothing personal against Mary Barra – a bright, capable articulate leader), but a 77% increase?

Mary Barra's compensation does not make up for the general and continued inequity in women's pay – clearly white men are still doing quite well in corner offices across America. Ford CEO Mark Fields earned $18.57 million while Fiat-Chrysler’s CEO Sergio Marchionne’s compensation package could exceed a whopping $100 million.

Just what ARE the optics of such a generous bump in compensation juxtaposed against a decades long stagnant, and in many cases, declining wages for the average working person?

In the name of decency and fairness shouldn't the factory worker see their pay and benefits restored? GM stockholders haven't seen a bump in the value of their stock-but the CEO gets a 77% raise? How about looking after them before the CEO is so generously compensated?

Is it that so long ago that we don’t remember General Motors’ arrogance, greed, and poor decisions that along with Wall Street bankers, helped bring this country to its knees and Michigan to a near depression with lost jobs and houses even as Wall Street and housing mortgage companies walked away with seven figure compensation packages and countless millions of dollars more in bonuses.

Yet as the economy moves further into recovery, shouldn't we ALL be asking: "What happened

DTE Energy puts safety first; earns award from American Gas Association DTE Energy received the 2015 American Gas Association’s (AGA) Safety Achievement Award for excellence in employee safety.

to the little guy?"

Once again in the eyes of the hard working middle class, the single mom working two jobs to make ends meet, and the working person on the line at GM who saw their pay and benefits cut, a 77% pay increase can only be a wound reopened and rubbed in their face – a great inequity to the working class of this country. The rich and well connected get the gold mine while Main Street gets the shaft.

According to a recent Levy Economic Institute study, 90 percent of Americans earn roughly the same real income today as they earned back in the early 1970s. http:// www.levyinstitute.org/ pubs/sa_mar_16.pdf Increasingly, working men and women are seeing "the system" stacked against them.

Feeling the Bern Presidential candidate US Senator Bernie Sanders rails against the 1 percenters and has tapped into the anger and resentment of the 99% of Americans who are feeling run over and left behind in a county where the perception, feeling, and reality is that the rich get richer and the poor, working stiffs and middle class continue to fall further and further behind.

Senator Sanders talks passionately about how corporate greed is destroying America, mocked by some as being a "Socialist". But let’s be clear: When working families pick up the paper or see that one individual made $28.6 million for one year’s work even as they are marginalized and are losing faith in the American Dream, it is no wonder that Americans feel demoralized, depressed, angry and resentful.

Donald Trump - the Perfect Populist?

Be clear, Donald Trump is not my cup of tea. His message of hate and disrespect for the diversity of our nation is frighten-

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The award recognizes companies that have the lowest number of injuries and illnesses as measured by the Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

The American Gas Association criteria also require award-winning companies to have lower-than-industry-average injury rates.

Mary Barra ing. What is even more frightening is the large percentage of fearful and angry Americans ready to follow his hate message.

"The Donald" has tapped into the American workers’ discontent and could put a historically presidential ‘’blue’ state like Michigan in play this November.

Trump is capturing the angry white working class vote in such numbers that it has put the fear of dearly departed Walter Reuther – if not God - into their leadership.

The Huffington Post quotes many labor leaders who are beginning to wet their pants over the magnetism Trump has with its members. "He (Trump) is the first Republican in a while that has real appeal. I don’t think people looked at Mitt Romney and said, ‘He’s going to fight for me.” (Andy Stern, former SEIU president).

The conservative National Review points out that just a year ago, nobody in the Republican political establishment could have imagined the rise of Donald Trump as a serious contender for the party’s nomination.

Party elites somehow missed the lurch of working-class Republicans toward nationalism, protectionism, and a much

more vulgar style of politics. Now they are facing electoral doomsday at the hands of a reality-TV star real estate billionaire who is not really a Republican at all, and whose most pronounced trait is that he couldn’t care less what you or anybody else thinks about him.

Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders claims his effort is more than about electing him, it is about waking up the masses and talking back our nation from the 1% that are enriching themselves on the backs of the American people. It is unlikely that he will reach the White House, but his message and that of Mr. Trump’s are reaching the American people.

“This was achieved through constant collaboration and strong partnerships with our local union leadership,” said Mark Stiers, president and chief operating officer, DTE Gas. “Together, we embrace the principle of 200 percent accountability – that employees are 100 percent responsible for their own safety and 100 percent responsible for the safety of those around them, including the public and our customers.”

recordable injuries from 2014 to 2015, and the number is even lower to date in 2016.

“The men and women who operate America’s natural gas delivery systems play a pivotal role in safely and reliably delivering this clean energy source to nearly 69 million customers every day,” said AGA President and CEO Dave McCurdy.

“Protecting this skilled and valuable workforce is essential as we work to achieve the highest possible level of service for our customers. I applaud DTE Energy and commend them for their strong safety record.”

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May 4-10, 2016

Page C-8

Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest produces winners Michigan Chronicle Staff reports

Comerica Bank and Hatch Detroit announced the return of The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest. The 2016 contest will include an expanded benefits package for the $50,000 grand prize winner as well as additional support for entrepreneurs and Hatch Alumni. Comerica is more than doubling its commitment for the contest, investing more than $125,000 to help launch even more small business successes in Detroit and help ensure the success of current Hatch Alumni.

“Comerica is deeply rooted in the Detroit community and we recognize the important role small businesses are playing in the resurgence of the city,” said Linda Forte, senior vice president and chief diversity officer, Comerica Bank.

“We are proud to be the flagship sponsor of this contest, which has sparked other small business contests and economic development in the region.”

The additional funds will be strategically allocated to enhance the contest and its alumni through marketing and public relations efforts as well as a series of business planning sessions hosted by Hatch Detroit in their targeted neighborhood revitalization areas of Hamtramck, Jefferson East, Grandmont Rosedale and the Avenue of Fashion. Four workshops are scheduled during the contest application period: June 2 – Hamtramck June 16 – Jefferson East June 29 – Avenue of Fashion July 7 – Grandmont Rosedale The free workshops will provide an opportunity for entrepreneurs to work with established business owners to strengthen their business ideas, solidify their business plans and develop a contest application that will make a strong impression on the Detroit community.

Comerica Bank has also expanded its commitment for contest alumni.

Comerica has contributed $25,000 to the Michigan Women’s Foundation to establish a micro-enterprise loan fund offered exclusively to Hatch

Alumni to help them meet shortterm funding challenges. Comerica and Hatch Detroit will also host a business planning workshop later this year tailored to Hatch Alumni to address challenges related to opening and operating a storefront.

The business competition seeks entrepreneurs with a retail concept to submit their business plans to establish a brick and mortar location in Detroit, Highland Park or Hamtramck. Business applications will be accepted May 2 – July 15, 2016.

The winning business pitch will take home $50,000 from Comerica Bank, $25,000 in branding and logo design from global advertising agency Team Detroit, and a package of accounting, legal, IT, public relations, and counsel from Hatch Detroit and its partners.

Tom Gores and Dan Gilbert team up to bring Major League Soccer to Detroit Michigan Chronicle Reports

Detroit Pistons owner Tom Gores and Cleveland Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert announced today they are partnering to bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) club to downtown Detroit. The ownership group’s efforts are supported by MLS and its commissioner Don Garber, who recently announced plans to grow the league to 28 teams and identified Detroit as market of great interest.

“The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest is a catalyst of business competitions.

Not only does it help the winning businesses to establish storefronts, but it introduces us to the area’s top entrepreneurs,” said Vittoria Katanski, executive director of Hatch Detroit.

“All contest alumni are continuously encouraged and guided toward opening their doors. The 14 Hatch Alumni who have operating storefronts and 16 more operating as pop ups or opening soon, proves this contest is really revitalizing Detroit.”

Gores and Gilbert, both graduates of Michigan State University with substantial sports, business and investment holdings in the region, issued a joint statement: “Detroit is rising and we know firsthand the power of sports to lift a community and drive a civic renaissance. We are very excited about the prospect of bringing Major League Soccer to Detroit and building an ownership group that represents a cross-section of investors.”

Hatch Detroit has experienced tremendous success igniting small business growth since it launched the contest in 2011. Comerica Bank became the first flagship sponsor of the contest in 2012 and has provided $200,000 in prize money as well as public relations and marketing support to Hatch Detroit and the contest alumni. The contest has garnered 1,400 business submissions with a combined 300,000 public votes that helped crown Hugh, La Feria, Batch Brewing Company, Sister Pie andLive Cycle Delight as contest winners, and helped push the doors open for numerous contest alumni including the Detroit Institute of Bagels, Detroit Vegan Soul and Busted in Detroit.

The MLS commissioner will be in Detroit this week and will meet with the potential ownership group to discuss their expansion plan. It will include the construction of a stadium in downtown Detroit.

Major League Soccer has experienced

a period of unprecedented growth during the last 12 years, doubling in size from 10 to 20 clubs since 2004. The process and timeline for expansion to 28 clubs will be announced in the coming months.

The addition of an MLS club would fuel the growing excitement building in Detroit and enhance the expanding entertainment district in the city. The team will serve the impressive soccer fan base in the state, which includes thousands of millennials and Michigan youth. Soccer has become one of the most popular sports in the state, with more than 92,000 registered youth players in Michigan.

“I’ve always believed a sports franchise is a community asset with the power to unite and inspire people,” said Gores. “I’m excited to partner with Dan and help in Detroit’s resurgence. Together we have all the tools we need to make a new team successful.”

“Soccer is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world with a passionate fan base and global reach,” said Gilbert.

“Bringing a team downtown will also further energize Detroit’s urban core, which is critical to the entire city’s overall health and vibrancy.”

For more information about the contest or to submit a business plan, visit HatchDetroit.com.

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May 4-10, 2016

Reflections

By Steve Holsey

A preference for black We all know that the Kardashians are more famous for “being famous” than for noteworthy talent. But their “thing” for marriages and liaisons with black people is interesting.

Kim Kardashian is married to Kanye West and was formerly married to music producer Damon Thomas, and in between there was an affair with Ray J.

Kim and Kanye

Khloé and Lamar

Rob and Chyna

Blac

Dr. Funkenstein says it’s time to pay for all that funk After years of getting ripped off, George Clinton is fighting back

Kylie and Tyga Khloé Kardashian married ex-NFL star Lamar Odom in 2009. Rob Kardashian, who is not nearly as “obsessed with fame” (to quote Damon Thomas) as his sisters, is engaged to model Blac Chyna (her real name is Angela White).

And half-sister Kylie Jenner goes with rapper Tyga.

Coincidences? Not likely. But, of course, in the greater scheme of things, it’s their business.

The Kardashians are massively overpublicized…and I just gave them more!

IT COMES as no surprise that the No. 1 album in the United States at the time of this writing is “The Very Best of Prince,” followed by “Purple Rain” by Prince and the Revolution.

It’s kind of strange that people run out and purchase music when an artist has left us. If most of these people were true Prince fans, they would already have the albums from the glory years.

By Keith A. Owens Senior editor

Do not attempt to adjust your radio, there is nothing wrong. On Thursday, May 5, George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic will take control of your funky mind and return it to you as soon as you are grooving. Word is the Mothership will be landing in full force at the Sound Board.

Longtime funkateers know there is nothing quite like a P-Funk experience, even if they can’t quite measure up to the funk extravaganzas of old when an actual spaceship would land on stage and Dr. Funkenstein himself would appear at the top of the staircase in an explosion of white smoke and multicolored lights, looking like a drag queen pimp with a long blond wig, a white fur coat with matching fur apple hat, and white platform shoes studded in gold. Oh yeah, and a cane. And the wrap around shades.

Those were the days, man.

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama The Obamas are so cool. I love them!

First Lady Michelle Obama wore a purple dress to a formal event in the U.K. in honor of Prince. Queen Elizabeth was in attendance.

BILLY PAUL was one of the all-time greats and fortunately he lived a long life.

Although best known for his No. 1 classic, “Me and Mrs. Jones,” he had actually been active in the music industry since the 1950s.

Interestingly, he hit his commercial stride after signing with Billy Paul Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International Records in the city of his birth.

There, the jazzy soul stylist enjoyed a string of hits, including “Thanks for Saving My Life,” “Let’s Make a Baby” and such great albums as “War of the Gods” and “Going East.”

Unique singers like Billy Paul — no one sounded even a little bit like him — only come around occasionally. It was a blessing that he shared his gift.

KEKE PALMER is a talented and ambitious young lady. She’s been seen

See Reflections Page D-2

Clinton has been laser-focused in recent years on how to recoup the more than $250 million he believes has been stolen from him over the years by a corrupt record industry. And he is making progress.

For those interested in learning the details of Clinton’s remarkable career, as well as his more recent battles with the industry, you need to pick up his biography, “Brothers Be, Yo, Like George Ain’t that kinda Funkin’ Hard On You?” Although the hardcover is practically impossible to find these days (because it has been banned due to a court fight, says Clinton) it can still be obtained via Kindle. The heavy duty detail begins on page 378.

Today, Clinton is 74 years old, and he sports a sharp suit and hat at each performance. Don’t bother trying to find any of those suits at any store anywhere near you because, please believe, they are sharp enough to cut a square and make him bleed. Still, the look is somewhat shocking to those who can recall all of the outrageous costumes of old. Clinton also shares the stage these days not only with his children but even some of his grandchildren who have been brought up in the mysterious ways, means and secrets of the funk.

Most of the original band members are no longer part of the crew, but

the funk remains as potent as ever.

Still, one has to wonder how long Dr. Funkenstein can keep this up. Or even, why he feels the need.

Granted, as someone who has ascended to the throne of master and legend, it can be understood why he might want to continue to do what he does best. And as long as George Clinton chooses to perform, there will always be ecstatic crowds on hand to cheer him on.

But in a recent conversation with the funk master, it became clear that there is more on his mind these days — much, much more — than simply continuing to chant “We want the funk!”

Specifically,

The following is abbreviated, but it should give you the general idea of what has Clinton so angry — and so determined. Because if even half of what he describes is true, Clinton — and his family and bandmates — could have long ago taken the option of scaling back and enjoying their lives in a manner to which they are most certainly entitled after all those years of hits and samples.

APPENDIX C: STATEMENT OF JANE PETERER THOMPSON “I have personal knowledge of the matters discussed herein and am able to testify as to the matters set forth herein, as called as a witness…

“I formerly maintained a working

See George Clinton Page D-2

entertainment

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

George Clintion

From page D-1

relationship with Mr. Armen Boladian and Bridgeport Music, Inc., et al of Southfield, Michigan, and at times other companies under Mr. Boladian’s control, ownership, and/or affiliation … for approximately 24 years beginning in 1984 and ending in January 2008.

“I only later learned that Mr. Boladian fraudulently and materially altered this March 4, 1982 document and then recorded it with the U.S. Copyright Office to create a claim of ownership in these 164 separate copyright registrations in the name of Bridgeport Music.”

37

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“During that period of time I worked as an administrator where my primary task was to administer the copyrights of Bridgeport Music.

“In 1990, Mr. Boladian obtained a notary stamp on the March 4, 1982 dated agreement and then refiled the document with the U.S. Copyright Office himself and thereby placed 164 separate copyright registrations for musical works related to Mr. Clinton and his groups, Parliament and Funkadelic, Brides of Funkenstein, as well as Philippe Wynne, Glen Goins, and Eddie Hazel, into the name of Bridgeport Music. ….

May 4-10, 2016 Page D-2

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But what’s worse is that, according to Clinton, it is still going on.

“The Grammy that I just got with Kendrick (Lamar), they’re claiming ownership of that,” he said. “They’re trying to block me getting the money. I want you to go to the U.S. Copyright Office and see (who they say wrote the song). It’s a song I wrote with Kendrick, and already those same people, it’s in their name at the copyright office.”

But it doesn’t stop there.

“In the movie ‘Straight

Outta Compton,’ half the music in there is ours, but right now they got it all tied up in the courts and different people, and they all work in concert with each other. I haven’t seen one dime for any of it, not for what I did with Kendrick or ‘Straight Outta Compton.’ Or anything else that we got, like all those commercials we got out there right now (using P-Funk songs).

“If I wasn’t making this much noise, nobody would ask like you just asked. Nobody would even care, and that’s been my whole mission, to try to get some relevan-

Celebrities born in May Adele, May 5

Janet Jackson, May 16

Chris Brown, May 5

Dwayne Johnson, May 2

Joan Collins, May 23

Grace Jones, May 19

Clint Eastwood, May 3

Lenny Kravitz, May 26

Melissa Etheridge, May 29

Aaron McGruder, May 29

Louis Farrakhan, May 11

Ray Parker Jr., May 1

Colin Farrell, May 31

Busta Rhymes, May 20

Pam Grier, May 26

Emmitt Smith, May 15

cy back into the thing so people will pay attention.

And it’s working.”

But despite how long and hard the struggle has been, Clinton remains strongly optimistic that he will prevail in the end and get the money he is owed.

Call (313) 963-5522

“That’s what a lot of the companies are afraid of, because they did this to everybody,” he said.

“It’s getting ready to explode.”

George Clinton and Parliament-Funkadelic will appear at Sound Board at Motor City Casino on Thursday, May 5, at 8 pm. Tickets are $45, $32 and $30.

‘Sizzling Hot Sundays’ Starting May 15, Detroit Blues Café, 14493 Gratiot, will be presenting “Sizzling Hot Sundays” with Donafay, “king of the Back Jams.” Admission is free before 8 p.m. The music will be a combination of the hottest old school with a blend of the best new school. Attire: dressy. Food, drinks, top 4.94 in. security, free birthday parties. For more information, call 313.466.3400 or 313.840.4431.

10.5 in.

Lauryn Hill, May 26

A basketball star too

Despite his lack of height, Prince (right) was a skilled basketball player at Bryant Junior High School in Minneapolis. The future music legend was also a good baseball and football player. After graduating from Bryant, he enrolled at Central High School where he continued to play sports.

Reflections

From page D-1

on many TV shows and in such movies as “Akeelah and the Bee,” “Joyful Noise,” “Barbershop 2: Back in Business,” “Shrink” and “Madea’s Family Reunion.” She also sings.

But since she’s only been in the business since 2004, it seems too early to write about her life and career, but she is doing just that. She says the book will be “sometimes serious, often hilarious and always an inspiring guide that encourages young women to live a life full of ownership and confidence.”

That’s nice, but she is only 22 years old. An autobiography should be preceded by more living.

The Grammy Museum, located in Los Angeles, has announced that its next exhibit, opening May 13, will honor the Miracles…Smokey Robinson, Bobby Rogers, Claudette Robinson, Pete Moore, Ronnie White, Billy Griffin.

Speaking of the Mir-

KeKe Palmer acles, the classics are constantly heard — “The Tracks of My Tears,” “Ooo Baby Baby,” “The Tears of a Clown,” etc. — but there are so many that I love that are seldom heard today, such as “I’ll Try Something New,” “I Gotta Dance to Keep From Crying,” “The Love I Saw in You was Just a Mirage” and “My Girl Has Gone.”

BETCHA DIDN’T KNOW…that former mayor Dennis Archer is a very big fan of John Legend.

If Legend is performing here, chances are Archer will be there.

MEMORIES: “Shame”

(Evelyn “Champagne” King), “Just Got Paid” (Johnny Kemp), “When She Was My Girl” (the Four Tops), “Outstanding” (the Gap Band), “Whispers (Gettin’ Louder)” (Jackie Wilson), “Theme Song From ‘Which Way is Up’” (Stargard), “If You Let Me Stay” (Terence Trent D’Arby), “You Should be Dancing” (the Bee Gees), “It Seems to Hang On” (Ashford & Simpson), “Stop Your Weeping” (the Dramatics).

BLESSINGS to L.J. Reynolds, Aubrey Wright, Millie Scott, Audrey Wright, Michael J. Powell, Cliff Russell, Nick Hood III, Walter Bridgforth, Jr., Greg Hendricks, Montez Miller, Frankie Darcell and John Arnold.

WORDS OF THE WEEK, from Will Rogers: “Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”

Let the music play!

Steve Holsey can be reached at svh517@aol. com and PO Box 02843, Detroit, MI 48202.

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LOVE HEALTH ETC. MONEY IS HERE HELP

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Bro. Harris - P.O. BOX 21765 DETROIT, MI 48221

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Service Learning School District is accepting applications for grades K-8 for the 2016-2017 school year. We have two locations in which applicants can apply.

Detroit Service Learning Academy is located at 21605 W. 7 Mile Rd. Detroit MI 48219. Redford Service Learning Academy is located at 25940 Grand River Ave., Redford MI 48240. School hours are from 8:00a.m. - 4:00p.m. Should the number of applications exceed available space, a lottery will be held on Friday, May 13, 2016 at 5p.m. for both locations.

City of Royal Oak, Michigan Advertisement Notice of Invitation to Bid

Please call (313) 541-7619 for further information.

This institution is prohibited form discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex and disability.

ATTENTION QUALIFIED CONTRACTORS W-3 Construction is seeking qualified contractors to submit a lump sum bid for the following bid packs: 1A General Trades; 2B Roofing; 3C Aluminum Entrances; 4D Heating Ventilation & Cooling and 5E Electrical. A Mandatory Pre-Bid Conference and Walk-through will be held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday May 11 at Butzel Family Center 7737 Kercheval, (main lobby) Detroit Michigan 48214.

Documents are available at Engineering Reproduction, Inc. (313 366 3390) Contact Wendel Martin at W-3 Construction (313 875 8000 ext. 224) Contractors desiring to bid shall demonstrate and comply with the following: at least 5 years’ experience; bondable (bonds may be required); licensed as required by the State and/or local jurisdiction; City of Detroit Executive order 2014; Federal Labor Standards Provisions (HUD 4010); Federal E.O. 11246; Section 3 Clause and Prevailing Wage.

DETROIT EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS CORPORATION A Michigan Works! Agency, in cooperation with the MAYOR’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (MWDB)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR

WAGNER-PEYSER EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND RELATED REEMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND ELIGIBILITY ASSESSMENT (RESEA) PROGRAM AND TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE (TAA)/ TRADE ADJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2015 (TAARA OF 2015) The Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), a Michigan Works! Agency, is seeking proposals from qualified suppliers to provide Employment Services to DESC and MWDB. Proposals will only be accepted from those firms or individuals demonstrating a minimum of seven (7) years of experience providing the services requested in this RFP for projects of similar scope and size.

DESC expects to award one (1) contract for the services described in the RFP. The contract period will be from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, the contract may be extended for up to two, one-year periods.

All Bid Packages for this RFP will be sent via email only. Bid packages will not be available for hardcopy pickup and will not be mailed by U.S. mail. Requests for the RFP package may be emailed to DESC at descprocurement@detempsol.org. In order to receive an RFP package, qualified vendors must submit the following information via email: company name, address, office phone number, fax number, contact person’s name, title, and valid email address.

Sealed bids must be received at DESC, 440 East Congress – 4th Floor, Detroit, Michigan 48226, no later than May 26, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. A Public Recording is scheduled for May 26, 2016, 2:30 P.M. at the above-mentioned address. The bids will not be available for viewing. Each vendor is responsible for ensuring that its bid is received by DESC on a timely basis. Late bids will not be accepted.

Mayor’s Workforce Development Board, Cynthia J. Pasky, Co-Chairperson David E. Meador, Co-Chairperson Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation Board, Laura A. Hughes, Chairperson Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, Jose Reyes, Interim President/Chief Executive Officer

A copy of the proposed budget is available for public inspection at the above address.

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Information pertaining to bidding and availability of specifications can be obtained through the City of Royal Oak website at http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us/portal/ general-information/bids-and-rfps at no charge and the Michigan Intergovernmental Trade Network (MITN) at www.govbids.com/scripts/MITN/public/home.asp

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Academy of Warren will hold a public hearing May 17, 2016 at 5:00 pm at 13943 East 8 Mile Road, Warren, MI 48089, (586) 552-8010 to review the proposed 2016-2017 operating budget.

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Page D-3

ANNOUNCEMENTS

NOTICE OF INTENT TO REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS CITY OF DETROIT Housing and Revitalization Department Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 2 Woodward Ave, Suite 908 Detroit, Michigan 48226 Telephone: 313.224.6519 TO ALL INTERESTED AGENCIES, GROUPS AND PERSONS Pursuant to 24 CFR 58.70, this notice shall satisfy procedural requirements for activities undertaken by the City of Detroit.

On or after May 13, 2016, and in accordance with 24 CFR 58.71, the City of Detroit will submit a request to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Detroit Field Office for the release of Community Development Block Grant funds authorized under Title I of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-383). Once provided the appropriate authorization, the City of Detroit may commit these funds to the following project: Franklin-Wright Settlements Public Facility Rehabilitation Project Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), 2015 $100,000.00

11TH ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD OPEN HOUSE SUNDAY, MAY 15, 2016 - 1-5PM North Rosedale Park Community House 18445 Scarsdale, Detroit MI 48223

Open Houses of Homes for Sale Residents' Homes Open for Viewing www.grandmontrosedale.com/ 313-387-4732 Ext 111 or 313-909-0760

WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS for DATA CIRCUITS, INTERNET ACCESS, AND VOICE SERVICES REISSUED The Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), a Michigan Works! Agency, is seeking proposals from qualified vendors to provide the above referenced services to DESC and the Mayor’s Workforce Development Board (MWDB).

DESC is seeking one or more qualified vendor(s) to provide the services requested in this RFP, who have successfully managed projects of similar size and scope.

The contract will be for a three-year period.

All Bid Packages for this RFP will be sent via email only. Bid packages will not be available for hardcopy pickup and will not be mailed by U.S. mail. Requests for the RFP package may be emailed to DESC Procurement at DESCProcurement@detempsol.org. In order to receive an RFP package, qualified vendors must submit the following information via email: company name, address, office phone number, fax number, contact person’s name and title, and valid email address.

Sealed bids must be received at DESC, 440 East Congress – 4th Floor, Detroit, Michigan 48226, no later than May 20, 2016 2:00 P.M. A Public Recording is scheduled for May 20, 2016, 2:30 P.M. at the address below. The bids will not be available for viewing. Each vendor is responsible for ensuring that its bid is received by DESC on a timely basis. Late bids will not be accepted. The RFP contains special instructions regarding touring the facilities.

Cynthia J. Pasky, MWDB Co-Chairperson David E. Meador, MWDB Co-Chairperson Laura Hughes, DESC Chairperson Jose Reyes, DESC Interim - President/CEO EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER/PROGRAM FUNDED BY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY, STATE OF MICHIGAN AUXILIARY AIDS AND SERVICES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST TO INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES (TTY NUMBER: 711)

DETROIT EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS CORPORATION A Michigan Works! Agency, in cooperation with the MAYOR’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (MWDB) REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR IN-SCHOOL YOUTH PROGRAM Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act The Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), a Michigan Works! Agency, is seeking proposals from qualified suppliers to provide In-School Youth Program to DESC and MWDB. Proposals will only be accepted from those firms or individuals demonstrating a minimum of seven (7) years of experience providing the services requested in this RFP for projects of similar scope and size.

DESC expects to award one (1) contract for the services described in the RFP. The contract period will be from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, the contract may be extended for up to two, one-year periods.

All Bid Packages for this RFP will be sent via email only. Bid packages will not be available for hardcopy pickup and will not be mailed by U.S. mail. Requests for the RFP package may be emailed to DESC at descprocurement@detempsol.org. In order to receive an RFP package, qualified vendors must submit the following information via email: company name, address, office phone number, fax number, contact person’s name, title, and valid email address.

Sealed bids must be received at DESC, 440 East Congress – 4th Floor, Detroit, Michigan 48226, no later than May 26, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. A Public Recording is scheduled for May 26, 2016, 2:30 P.M. at the above-mentioned address. The bids will not be available for viewing. Each vendor is responsible for ensuring that its bid is received

by DESC on a timely basis. Late bids will not be accepted.

Mayor’s Workforce Development Board, Cynthia J. Pasky, Co-Chairperson David E. Meador, Co-Chairperson Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation Board, Laura A. Hughes, Chairperson Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, Jose Reyes, Interim President/Chief Executive Officer

Published Every Wednesday

May 4-10, 2016

PROJECT SCOPE As permitted under 24 CFR 570.201(c), the City of Detroit shall commit Federal funds to reimburse eligible costs associated with improvements to the Franklin-Wright Settlements public facility.

The facility is located at 3360 Charlevoix, Detroit, MI 48207. The improvements to this facility will include the following: • Construct a second means of egress to the activity room • New flooring • Lighting/electrical upgrade • New doors and hardware • Air conditioning Franklin-Wright Settlements will serve as the primary sponsor of this project. The offices of Franklin-Wright Settlements are located at 3360 Charlevoix, Detroit, MI 48207.

DETERMINATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW This project is Categorically Excluded from environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), per 24 CFR 58.35(a)(1), and the preparation of an Environmental Assessment or an Environmental Impact Statement is not required at this time.

However, this project is subject to the laws and authorities articulated in 24 CFR 58.5 and 58.6.

The City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department has prepared the Environmental Review for this project, and the Environmental Review finds that this project complies with the laws and authorities articulated in 24 CFR 58.5 and 58.6.

In accordance with 24 CFR 58.38, the City of Detroit Housing and Revitalization Department prepared an Environmental Review Record that documents the environmental review process of the above-named project. The Environmental Review Record is on file with the Housing and Revitalization Department at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (CAYMC), 2 Woodward Ave, Suite 908, Detroit, Michigan, 48226. The record is available for public examination and copying, upon request, on weekdays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

REQUEST FOR RELEASE OF FUNDS AND CERTIFICATION Through the Requests for Release of Funds and Certification (form HUD 7015.15), the City of Detroit certifies to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the City of Detroit has fulfilled its responsibilities for environmental review, decision making and action. Furthermore, the City of Detroit and Mayor Michael E. Duggan, or other official approved by HUD, consent to accept the jurisdiction of the Federal courts if an action is brought to enforce responsibilities for environmental review, decision making, and action. Upon approval of the request for release of funds and certification, the City of Detroit may commit the Community Development Block Grant funds, and HUD will have satisfied its responsibilities under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and related laws and authorities.

PUBLIC COMMENTS The City of Detroit invites all interested agencies, groups and persons to submit written comments concerning the above-named project for consideration. The Housing and Revitalization Department should receive such comments at the address listed at the top of this notice on or before May 12, 2016. The City of Detroit will consider all such comments so received, and the City of Detroit will not request the release of Federal funds on the above-named project prior to May 13, 2016.

OBJECTION TO RELEASE OF FUNDS For a fifteen (15) day period following receipt of all required documentation, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will accept an objection to its approval of the release of funds and certification only if the objection is based upon one of the following claims identified in 24 CFR 58.75: (a) That the certification was not in fact executed by the Chief Executive Officer or other officer of the applicant approved by HUD; (b) That the applicant’s environmental review record for the project indicates omission of a required decision, finding, or step applicable to the program in the environmental review process; (c) That the grant recipient has committed funds or incurred costs not authorized by 24 CFR Part 58 before approval of a release of funds by HUD; or (d) That another Federal agency acting pursuant to 40 CFR 1504 has submitted a written finding that the project is unsatisfactory from the standpoint of environmental quality. HUD will not consider objections to the release of funds and certification on a basis other than those stated.

All interested agencies, groups or persons must prepare and submit objections in accordance with the required procedures outlined in 24 CFR 58.76. Potential objectors must address their objections to: Ms. Kathy Bagley, CPD Representative Detroit Field Office U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 477 Michigan Avenue, 16th Floor Detroit, Michigan, 48226 Potential objectors should contact Ms. Kathy Bagley at 313.226.7900 to verify the actual last day of the objection period.

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION The City of Detroit does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, handicap, national origin, race, sex or sexual orientation.

Persons or groups with discrimination complaints may file those complaints with the City of Detroit Human Rights Department, 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1026, Detroit, Michigan, 48226.

The applicant for this project is:

CITY OF DETROIT Michael E. Duggan, Mayor Coleman A. Young Municipal Center 2 Woodward Avenue, Suite 1126 Detroit, Michigan, 48226 Notice Date: May 4, 2016

Classified

May 4-10, 2016

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

ANNOUNCEMENTS

HELP WANTED

DETROIT EMPLOYMENT SOLUTIONS CORPORATION A Michigan Works! Agency, in cooperation with the MAYOR’S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD (MWDB)

FIREFIGHTER / PARAMEDIC (FULL-TIME) Canton Township is now accepting applications for the Firefighter / Paramedic (Full-Time) position. Application Deadline: Monday, June 6, 2016. Job description with complete qualifications and hiring process is available on the Canton Township website: http://canton.applicantpro.com/jobs/.

(EOE)

REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR

OUT-OF-SCHOOL YOUTH PROGRAM Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act

The Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), a Michigan Works! Agency, is seeking proposals from qualified suppliers to provide Out-of-School Youth Program to DESC and MWDB. Proposals will only be accepted from those firms or individuals demonstrating a minimum of seven (7) years of experience providing the services requested in this RFP for projects of similar scope and size.

DESC expects to award one (1) contract for the services described in the RFP. The contract period will be from July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017, the contract may be extended for up to two, one-year periods.

All Bid Packages for this RFP will be sent via email only. Bid packages will not be available for hardcopy pickup and will not be mailed by U.S. mail. Requests for the RFP package may be emailed to DESC at descprocurement@detempsol.org. In order to receive an RFP package, qualified vendors must submit the following information via email: company name, address, office phone number, fax number, contact person’s name, title, and valid email address.

Sealed bids must be received at DESC, 440 East Congress – 4th Floor, Detroit, Michigan 48226, no later than May 26, 2016 at 2:00 P.M. A Public Recording is scheduled for May 26, 2016, 2:30 P.M. at the above-mentioned address. The bids will not be available for viewing.

Each vendor is responsible for ensuring that its bid is received by DESC on a timely basis.

Late bids will not be accepted.

Mayor’s Workforce Development Board, Cynthia J. Pasky, Co-Chairperson David E. Meador, Co-Chairperson Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation Board, Laura A. Hughes, Chairperson Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation, Jose Reyes, Interim President/Chief Executive Office

!

System'Safety'Engineer' General!Motors!Co.!seeks!a!System!Safety!

Engineer!in!Warren,!MI!to!support!the!product! engineering!team!and!provide!safety!process! specific!knowledge!for!both!inAhouse!and!outA sourced!programs!and!develop!and!maintain! the!system!safety!plan!for!the!project,!among! other!duties.!Min.!MS!+!3!yrs.!exp.!!Please! send!resumes!to:!GM!Co.,!Resume!

Processing,!Ref.!#6713798,!300!Renaissance!

Center,!M/C!482AC32AD44,!Detroit,!MI!!48265A 3000.' '

CANTON TOWNSHIP FULL-TIME POSITIONS Canton Township is now accepting applications for the Recreation Specialist, Adult Services (Full-time) and Ordinance Inspector (Full-time) position. Application Deadline: Thursday, May 12, 2016.

Job descriptions with hiring process are available on the Canton Township website: http://canton.applicantpro.com/jobs/.

(EOE)

Seeking

GRAHAM HEALTH CENTER DIRECTOR AT OAKLAND UNIVERSITY Graham Health Center

Will provide medical care, disease prevention, health maintenance and health teaching to Oakland University students and staff within the scope of practice of a nurse practitioner.

Prescribe medications, treatments and diagnostic studies in consult with and under the delegated authority of contracted physicians.

Minimum Qualifications: Master’s degree in nursing or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Certification as an Adult or Family Nurse Practitioner. State of Michigan licensure with specialty certification.

Three years’ experience as a nurse practitioner in a primary care setting. One year of staff and budget management. This is a full time, administrative professional position, with a salary up to the mid $80s. Refer to online posting for additional qualifications and requirements.

Compensation commensurate with education and experience. First consideration will be given to those who apply by May 16, 2016.

Must apply on line to: https://jobs.oakland.edu

WWW.MICHIGANCHRONICLE.COM

Subscribe and receive one full year of the Michigan Chronicle to your home or office Name

Spare Change by begging for money but his story becomes one of inspiration and hope when he rises above his circumstances and uses the money he begs for to bless others in need. Prepare yourself for a good toe-tappin’, old fashion-gospel experience with a storyline you won’t forget.

The lobby of the Northwest Activity Center will be accented with a variety of vendors who will also help to make the atmosphere festive before and after the two scheduled performances at 3 & 7:30 pm.

Admission for the 3 p.m. matinee is $35 and includes Hors d Oeuvres served from

City

Renewal Acct. #

Accepted

L.A. Reid

Famed pro ducer-wr iter tells all L TIMES

See pag e D-1

MEDIA

79 – Num

ber 28

WHAT’S INS IDE

michiganch

Assistin urban sch g ools (Page A-3

ronicle.com March 23-2 9, 2016

) Michigan citizens are surprising ly supportive of using state resou to support rces Schools. Detroit Public Democra ts tend to be more supp ortive that Repu blicans — is not surp which rising.

U.S. Confe of Mayors rence stand with Flint s Mayor We aver

Michigan Chronicle Reports

Wayne Health Cen ter (Page B-1 )

Wayne tive Warr County Execuen C. Evans partners with health care providers to open new Wayne Heal th Center

Small bus in big clout iness equals Detroit

By Keith A. Owens

Senior Editor

U.S. Conf erence and Exec of Mayo and formutive Director Tom rs CEO Franklin er Atlanta Mayo Cochran Flint Mayostood in solid r Shirley arity with r Karen a recen Weav t City Hall press conferen er during ce at where she al and state called for Flint assistanc feder the Conf e. As part eren ce’s also relea of support, to Cong sed a new bipar Cochran ress and tisan lette from more the Whit r the coun than 150 mayo e House Flint in try urging reso rs around the after crisis. math of urces for the wate r As the democrati mayor cally elect of Flint , Karen the full ed Weav faith and colleague confiden er has try. On s from around ce of her their seco the coun Cochran, nd visit to Flint perts are Franklin, and , a team of providing exsupport to Mayo r

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C. Grangs ton Bullard (Page C-1 )

Pancakes & Politics straight talk (Page C-6 )

LL Cool J raps again (Page D-1 )

The Michigan Chronicle NORTHE

awards show host of Cool J find s. Can LL acceptan renewed ce He believes as a rapper? at age 48, he can and, new albumis working on a .

HIGH SC Historic RN event ledHOOL STUDENT REVOLT TU to seismic RN change atS 50 DPS

By Ken Cole man

As reso lute as Charles he was Cold in his Medi ing leans forw 50 springs ago, me in the cal Center-ar ard from the couc ea apartmen eyes and h declares: t, stares “We had fascist on to get rid of Art Carty wheels. he had . He was He was no resp a nasty a ect was our first objec for the stud person and ents. So we did get tive, to get that rid of him. rid of him ” — and His hair is boun eyes are tiful with has aged shielded by bifoc gray strands. presents and he's some al lenses. His His body what wear that are a stack of daily y. Cold as news with great thick as the Holy paper clipp ing ings Bible and that touc detail his hero recalls hed off ism, a set helped a student of events to administr marshal in dram walkout. One district, ative change at atic academic that one of the and the 295, 000largest “It was in the natio school pretty bad,” n.

Colding recalled See DPS in a page A-4

479 Ledyard • Detroit, MI 48201

$1.00

Charles Colding at the form er Northern High Scho ol in Detr oit.

Harper Consulting invites you to this unforgettable Mother’s Day experience!

Get your tickets today at God’s World or call 313-879-9237 for more information.

Seating will be limited.

For more information, visit at downtowndetroit.org or downtowndetroitparks.com, on Twitter at @CampusMartius and on Facebook at Facebook.com/CampusMartiusPark.

Check if Renewal

D BY REA

Those wishing to have dinner must purchase VIP tickets no later than Friday May 6.

initiatives activate these public spaces attracting over 2 million visitors annually.

DDP strengthens and supports Downtown Detroit through strategic initiatives and programs. DDP convenes business, philanthropic and government partners to create a vibrant, resilient urban core for Detroit and the surrounding community.

YES! I want to receive the Michigan Chronicle for 52 weeks for only $50.00

POWERE

1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Admission for the 7:30 p.m. performance (without dinner) is also $35. VIP tickets are $50 which includes both the show and Dinner (served from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.) and light jazz by saxophone recording artist Lord Yancyy.

‘Good Morning America’s’ Deals and Steals on comes to Campus Martius

Zip

Volume

$5000 SIGN ON! Dedicated Customer, Home Every Week, $65$75K Annually and Excellent Benefits Plan!

CALL 888-409-6033 www.Drive4Red. com (6 months experience and class A CDL required)

SYNOPSIS: Spare Change is the inspirational story of a God-fearing senior citizen struggling to maintain amidst a failing economy. A factory lay-off leaves him facing homelessness and a city government whose social services are inadequate.

Eventually living on a bench in downtown Detroit’s Capital Park, he earns the name

Address

See pag e B-1

Advertise your EVENT, PRODUCT, or RECRUIT an applicant in more than 130 Michigan newspapers!

Only $299/week.

To place, Call: 800-227-7636

HELP WANTED

Walker, Bertina Thomas, Evangelist Mary Coston and gospel sensation Dr. Toni Booker & Booker Productions.

The show stars Loren Dean Harper as the title character Spare Change and features some of Detroit’s powerhouse talents including Ursula

Detroit wom an showers De infants with troit love

THIS CLASSIFIED SPOT FOR SALE!

APRIL IS NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION AWARENESS MONTH

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE IN THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

The hit musical play ‘Spare Change’ returns for special Mother’s Day Dinner Extravaganza Spare Change- the Musical- is back following sold-out success at the Detroit Music Hall in 2013 and Detroiters are excited! Veteran writer and director, Loren Dean Harper, who was the artistic force behind several successful national tours including Wicked Ways, A Good Man is Hard to Find and Thank God the Beat Goes On, proudly returns to Detroit with his hit musical classic Spare Change, but this time he’s including a fantastic Mother’s Day dining experience fit for the entire family.

HELP WANTED

Page D-4

Calling all Good Morning America fans.The show’s hugely popular “Deals and Steals” segment with Tory Johnson, which airs on ABC on Thursday mornings offering exclusive deals on unique products, is hitting the road and Detroiters can be part of the audience for this epic event. “Deals and Steals On Wheels” will cruise into Campus Martius Park for a LIVE broadcast on Thursday, May 5.

Be part of the excitement! Check-in for those who want to be in the LIVE GMA audience for this amazing show will open at 6:00 a.m. on Thursday at Campus Martius Park and close promptly at 6:45 a.m.

Extra time should be allowed for parking, traffic and security.

All ages are welcome. Campus Martius Park is located at 800 Woodward Avenue at the Corner of Michigan Avenue.

Space may be limited and admittance is not guaranteed. Capacity is determined the morning of the show and admission is at the discretion of the audience coordinator and security personnel.

Downtown Detroit Partnership — through its affiliate Detroit 300 Conservancy in partnership with the City of Detroit Parks and Recreation Department — operates, maintains and programs Downtown’s parks, which include Campus Martius Park, Cadillac Square, Capitol Park, Grand Circus Park and Harmonie Park/Paradise Valley. Placemaking

praise connect

THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE

A Prayer for Mothers Mothers give life and I thank God for each of you. This month I extend prayer, love and thanks to all mothers whether you birthed a child, career or a dream. Whether you are a nurse, doctor, educator, author, maintenance person, philanthropist, secretary, chef, advertising executive, missionary, police officer, firefighter, minister, entrepreneur, thank you. Thank you for the courage to deliver to the rest of the world what nobody else could. Your walk, gift, dream, purpose, whatever you have birthed makes you a mother and I say thank you!

Nobody could birth the gifts that God has put inside of you for us, but you. I applaud you for your courage to live, walk, cry, laugh, hurt, suffer, innovate, persevere,

stand and be victorious through birthing everything. Every mother who has birthed a child is priceless. But just as relevant and valuable are the millions who have laid the groundwork of bringing to life something else that we need to survive.

Your prayers, fortitude, grace, courage are remarkable. I encour-

May 4-10, 2016

Page D-5

Derrick Lydell Wright

age every mother, no matter what you have brought to life, to keep your hand in God’s hand, your eyes on Him, your thoughts facing forward. My sisters, you can do anything! You are a mother. If it has not been birthed yet, it is on the way. Continue birthing what God puts in your heart, hands and mind because it is the diamond we are waiting for.

PRAISE CONNECT Are you hosting a concert or faith-friendly event?

Are you celebrating an anniversary or special occasion?

PROMOTE IT HERE!

Contact us at: nblack@realtimesmedia.com

Services for Derrick Lydell Wright were held on April 2 at Christian Faith Baptist Church with Pastor Carl J. Curry officiating.

Mr. Wright passed away on March 28, 2016.

Derrick Lydell Wright was born on March 13, 1965 in Glendora, Mississippi, one of the five children of Margaret and Willie Amos Wright. He graduated from Pershing High School.

He married Alesia Royster and they became the parents of three children, one of whom, Sierra, preceded him in death. He worked at Charter Oaks in Clinton Township for 15 years as a maintenance technician.

Cherishing the memory of Derrick Lydell Wright are his wife, Alesia; children, Derrick Jr. and Alexia; five siblings, Melba, Sharon, Joyce, Jeannette and Willie; and many other relatives and friends.

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Interment took place at Roseland Park Cemetery.

Sylvia June Stafford Services for Sylvia June Stafford were held on April 2 at New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Wilma R. Johnson officiating. Mrs. Stafford passed away on March 27, 2016.

Sylvia June Stafford was born on July 31, 1933 in Detroit to Candis Lewis and John Sherman.

She attended Cass Technical High School and after graduation began working for the Michigan Cancer Foundation.

She married Leroy Stafford, Sr. and they had three children, Silla, Connie and Leroy, Jr. Her husband preceded her in death.

Cherishing the memory of Sylvia June Stafford are her daughters, Silla Johnson and Connie Stafford; a son, Leroy Stafford, Jr.; a granddaughter, Carmen Stafford; a brother, Robert Dalton; and many other relatives and friends.

Swanson Funeral Home handled the arrangements.

Interment took place at Detroit Memorial Park East.

Michael Anthony Reed Services for Michael Anthony Reed were held on April 7 at St. Paul United Methodist Church with Apostle C. Lee officiating. Mr. Reed passed away on March 31, 2016.

Michael Anthony Reed was born on Feb. 7, 1969 to Rosie and Melvin Reed, Sr. in Pontiac.

He graduated from Mumford High School. He later became a member of the Prince Hall Masons. He had a great fondness for riding motorcycles.

Cherishing the memory of Michael Anthony Reed are his children, Michael Reed, Jr. and Micah Reed; a grandchild, Michael Reed III; his mother, Rosie Reed Carlton; his father, Melvin Reed, Sr.; his brothers, Melvin Reed, Jr., Frederick D. Reed and Ferandal S. Reed; and many other relatives and friends.

Arrangements were handled by Swanson Funeral Home.

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CHENE PARK | DETROIT | MAY 21, 2016